Munich. MINI and Paul Smith bring together what defines both brands: iconic form, meticulous detailing, and the freedom to reinterpret classic design with unexpected twists. The MINI Paul Smith Edition translates the designer’s signature style into a distinctive edition for the MINI Cooper family—recognisable through characteristic accents both inside and out. The edition will be available in South Africa for the MINI Cooper 3‑Door, the MINI Cooper 5‑Door, and the MINI Cooper Convertible from the fourth quarter of 2026.

Details with a British twist

Three exterior colours are available for the edition, including two exclusives. Statement Grey reinterprets the 1959 Mini Austin Seven shade in a contemporary way – a clean grey with a subtle blue hue. Inspired White echoes the beloved beige of the classic Mini in a modern tone. Completing the palette is Midnight Black Metallic, an elegant black from the current MINI colour range.

Defining the look are striking contrasts between body, roof, and accent colours, combined with the signature Paul Smith stripes. Door mirrors, the radiator grille surround, and wheel hub caps stand out across all models in Nottingham Green - a nod to the British designer’s hometown.

For the hard-top models, two edition-specific roof finishes are available: Nottingham Green or a more understated black with matte and gloss tone-on-tone striping.

Inside, the MINI Paul Smith Edition pairs British understatement with creative details. Vescin/knit upholstery in Nightshade Blue meets black knitted surfaces with subtle tone-on-tone stripes. A “Hello” projection when opening the door, the “Every day is a new beginning” inscription on the door sill, and the signature stripe textile element on the 6 o’clock spoke of the sport steering wheel add distinctive touches. A hand-drawn “Rabbit” graphic on the floor mat completes the characteristically British sense of humour.

Key highlights of the MINI Paul Smith Edition

• Available in South Africa for the MINI Cooper S 3‑Door (petrol, only), MINI Cooper S 5‑Door, and MINI Cooper S Convertible. The MINI Cooper SE Paul Smith Edition will not be offered in South Africa. 
• Exclusive exterior colours: Statement Grey, Inspired White, or Midnight Black Metallic
• Roof options: Nottingham Green with signature stripe on the driver’s side, or Jet Black with tone-on-tone striping
• Nottingham Green as accent colour (mirrors, grille surround, hub caps)
• Distinctive details such as the “Hello” light projection, "Rabbit"-graphic on the floor mat, and “Every day is a new beginning” on the door sill
• Three exclusive Paul Smith backgrounds in Personal Mode for the circular display

Midrand. BMW Group South Africa has concluded its participation in the Simola Hillclimb in Knysna for 2026, one of South Africa’s leading motorsport events and a globally recognised platform for performance and engineering excellence.

Since its inception in 2009, the Simola Hillclimb has established itself as a benchmark motorsport event. The 1.9-kilometre course continues to test the limits of driver skill and vehicle capability, attracting leading manufacturers, professional drivers and international attention.

BMW Group South Africa fielded a four-driver line-up comprising BMW Motorsport Works driver Jens Klingmann (BMW M5 Sedan), Cristiano Verolini (BMW M4 Coupé), Leyton Fourie (BMW M2 Coupé) and Ronaldo Verolini (MINI JCW). Fourie and Verolini claimed class honours in the A3 and A4 categories of the King of the Hill competition, respectively, with times of 45.931 seconds and 44.505 seconds.

The selection of high-performance BMW M models and a MINI JCW delivered strong performances across the weekend, demonstrating the precision, control and engineering excellence synonymous with the brands.

BMW Group South Africa CEO, Peter van Binsbergen says: “The Simola Hillclimb continues to be an important platform for BMW Group South Africa. It allows us to demonstrate what our vehicles are capable of in a highly competitive environment, while connecting with a passionate motorsport community.

“To secure two class wins this year is another strong result for the team. It reflects the capability of our performance vehicles, as well as the focus, discipline and collaboration behind the scenes to deliver performance at this level.”

The nature of Hillclimbing demands precision, control and trust between driver and machine. These attributes remain central to BMW’s engineering philosophy, where performance and innovation are continuously developed to deliver a premium driving experience.

Alongside BMW, MINI continues to contribute to this performance-driven ethos through its own unique expression of driving excitement and brand character.

Beyond competition, the Simola Hillclimb continues to play a role in positioning South Africa as a competitive destination for international motorsport, showcasing local capability and industry expertise.

BMW Group South Africa remains committed to supporting platforms that showcase performance, innovation and the continued development of the automotive sector.

Midrand. BMW Group South Africa is participating in the Simola Hillclimb in Knysna, one of South Africa’s leading motorsport events and a globally recognised platform for performance and engineering excellence.

Since its inception in 2009, the event has developed into a benchmark motorsport platform. A 1.9-kilometre public road is transformed into a competitive course that attracts leading manufacturers, professional drivers and international attention.

Events such as the Simola Hillclimb provide BMW Group South Africa with an opportunity to demonstrate its focus on performance, innovation and premium driving dynamics, while engaging with customers and enthusiasts in a high-performance environment.

BMW Group South Africa will field a four-driver line-up comprising Jens Klingmann, Cristiano Verolini, Leyton Fourie and Ronaldo Verolini.

The team will compete in a selection of high-performance BMW M models – the BMW M5 Sedan, BMW M4 Coupé and the BMW M2 Coupé RR Edition, which will enjoy its public debut at the event. Along with MINI’s JCW, each is engineered to deliver exceptional power, control and driving precision.

The vehicles will feature bespoke race liveries developed specifically for the 2026 Simola Hillclimb, reflecting BMW and MINI’s performance heritage and contemporary design language. Shell’s global partnership with BMW M is reflected in the branding on the BMW M5 Sedan, while DHL logos will be visible on the BMW M4 Coupé. For the second time running, bp and Castrol will sponsor the MINI JCW.

Peter van Binsbergen, BMW Group South Africa CEO, says:

"Events like the Simola Hillclimb are important to us because they reflect the same principles that guide us as a business, a commitment to performance, precision and continuous progress. Last year we came within reach of an overall win, and that experience has only sharpened our focus. This year, we're here to finish the job. Beyond the competition, this event creates a unique space to connect with customers and enthusiasts who share our passion for driving, and that energy is something we genuinely value."

The nature of Hillclimb racing demands precision, control and trust between driver and machine. These attributes align closely with BMW’s approach to engineering, where performance and innovation are continuously developed to deliver a premium driving experience.

The Simola Hillclimb also contributes to positioning South Africa as a competitive destination for international motorsport, highlighting local capability and industry expertise.

BMW Group South Africa remains committed to supporting platforms that showcase performance, innovation and the continued development of the automotive sector.

Midrand. In an age when flexing your creative muscles is as easy as taking your phone out of your pocket, people are exploring new frontiers, new ways to express themselves and capture the world around them. MINI South Africa has opened the door to a whole new world of creative innovation with its collaboration with local artist Shekhinah and her latest visual diary.

Titled “Spoonky” and featured on her 2025 hit album “Less Trouble”, the video makes use of MINI’s integrated vehicle technology to tell a story about irresistible love and the journey it encompasses.

Enabling this production is “Made by MINI”, a new creative platform that positions MINI and all its model derivatives as a tool for creating content and expressing oneself.

“Automotive technology is evolving and becoming more human-centred than ever. MINI has always been a brand that connects strongly to the individual and everything that makes them unique. We sought to enhance that connection through technology, and the result is a platform that’s made by MINI, for the MINI community, and one that speaks to the heart of everything we set out to achieve,” says Carmen Myles, Head of MINI South Africa.

As part of the platform, the latest generation of MINI vehicles is equipped with four high-definition exterior cameras and one “selfie” cockpit camera. The exterior cameras, located on front and rear bumpers and wing mirrors of the vehicle, are capable of capturing footage with 1620x1280 resolution at 30 FPS (frames per second), while the interior camera is located in the front overhead cluster.

Drivers can immediately access the footage captured on their MINI’s cameras on their smart devices via the MINI app, and from there can share the footage with their favourite contacts, groups, and social media platforms.

“It was quite something to see my music come to life in such a unique way. It makes you think about what’s possible when it comes to bringing your ideas and stories to life. And with MINI, those things can come to life wherever you are or wherever you’re heading to,” Shekhinah added.

The "Spoonky" visual diary was shot using the integrated cameras on the latest-generation MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4, the brand’s largest and most versatile model that combines all-wheel-drive with a flexible and dynamic driving experience, and the MINI John Cooper Works, inspired by the iconic 3-door original of the 1960s. 

“Shooting a visual diary using MINIs speaks to not only the versatility of our model offering, but also to how MINI delivers an elevated mobility experience defined by technical advancements and out-of-the-box thinking. We look forward to the videos and content that MINI owners will produce and share using their vehicle cameras and capturing their creativity and individual flair in new and exciting ways,” Carmen Myles concludes.

“Spoonky” by Shekhinah featuring MINI, and the behind-the-scene footage showing how MINI’s integrated vehicle cameras were used, is now available to watch on all MINI platforms at the links: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

As South Africans prepare for the Easter holiday period, BMW Group South Africa is encouraging drivers to begin their journeys right with a complimentary pre-trip vehicle inspection at their nearest BMW or MINI retailer. Available for vehicles of any age, even those no longer covered by Motorplan, the inspections are designed to enhance peace of mind ahead of long-distance travel. The initiative reflects BMW Group South Africa’s Customer Support philosophy, ‘Relax. We Care.’: a commitment to proactive customer care, expert service, and ensuring every journey is as seamless as possible.

Support When It Matters Most
Unexpected situations can arise at any time, and the Easter period is no exception. BMW On Call and MINI Assist provides 24-hour roadside assistance and accident support, coordinating help whenever it is needed. Should the situation involve a flat tyre, a mechanical concern, or an accident, they ensure prompt assistance and, where necessary, towing to an authorised repair centre. During peak travel seasons, BMW On Call teams are out on the road, positioned along key national routes to keep BMW and MINI drivers moving.

Motorplan: Comprehensive Cover for BMW and MINI Owners
Underpinning that roadside confidence is BMW’s proprietary Motorplan, first introduced in South Africa in 1985. Motorplan provides peace of mind for five years or 100,000 kilometres, with BMW On Call or MINI Assist roadside assistance included as a standard feature. Cover extends across a wide range of essential service and maintenance requirements, including:
•    Repairs to major components
•    Scheduled maintenance aligned with Condition Based Servicing
•    Replacement of essential fluids, including engine oil and brake fluid, during servicing
•    Wear-and-tear components where applicable
•    Genuine BMW Parts fitted by trained BMW and MINI technicians
Motorplan coverage can be extended up to a total of seven years or 200,000 kilometres, ensuring continued protection well into ownership.

Quality You Can Count On
That peace of mind extends to the quality of the work itself. All servicing and repairs are carried out by trained BMW technicians using Genuine BMW Parts, ensuring every vehicle continues to meet the BMW Group’s standards for engineering, safety, and long-term value. Parts are supplied through BMW Group South Africa’s Regional Distribution Centre, with logistics systems in place to ensure reliable and timely delivery to retailers nationwide. Strict serial tracking and quality verification safeguard customers against counterfeit components.

Service with Proactive Care
Working quietly in the background is BMW or MINI Service with Proactive Care, an innovative customer service solution that delivers individual, pre-emptive support to BMW and MINI owners. Using vehicle sensors and the BMW Group’s ConnectedDrive system, it monitors a vehicle’s condition on an ongoing basis. When a potential service or maintenance requirement is detected, a preferred retailer may proactively contact the customer to assist with scheduling an appointment, helping to maintain reliability, optimise performance, and reduce the likelihood of unexpected repair costs.

Flexible Options Beyond Motorplan
For vehicles no longer covered by Motorplan, BMW Group South Africa offers Value Service options and My BMW Plans. These tailored service solutions provide competitive pricing while maintaining BMW Group quality standards, so customers can continue to enjoy expert care at every stage of their vehicle’s life.

Midrand. It’s easy to spot an adventurer: someone who lives for discovering new places, reaching new heights or pursuing new experiences. Adventurers stand out from the crowd, even more so when they’re on the move with the all-new MINI Countryman Rugged Edition.

Exclusive to the South African market, and limited to 100 units, the MINI Countryman Rugged Edition embodies the versatility and ‘can-do’ attitude that today’s adventurers expect from a Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV). Featuring unique design details and outdoor-oriented features, the variant celebrates individuality and exploration, reinforcing MINI South Africa’s commitment to offering a diverse range of premium, personality-driven mobility options.

Adventure-driven design

Central to the Rugged Edition’s visual presence are decorative bonnet stripes and a grille decal that reinforce the variant’s adventurous character. Inspired by the mountain-like decals on the MINI Countryman’s C-pillar badge, these graphics give the variant a more distinctive presence and signal a taste for adventure. Complementing the design is the addition of 18-inch Y-spoke wheels in Frozen Midnight Grey, fitted with all-terrain tyres for extra confidence on gravel or rough surfaces.

Inside, the MINI Countryman’s feature set is complemented by all-weather mats, ensuring drivers and passengers need not worry about bringing the elements into the car with them.

Owners also have the option to further customise their vehicle with two complimentary roof-mounted accessories from the MINI Original Accessories catalogue. Depending on their lifestyle and travel needs, owners can choose between a roof box for extra storage or a roof-mounted bicycle carrier for outdoor escapes.

The MINI Countryman Rugged Edition is available in four exterior colours, each expressing a unique identity for both the vehicle and its owner:

• Nanuq White
• Smokey Green
• Melting Silver
• Legend Grey

Built for exploration

The Rugged Edition leads the local rollout of the latest-generation MINI Countryman. Launched globally in 2023, the Countryman remains the largest member of the MINI family, standing taller and longer than its predecessor. The result is a model that offers increased interior space, enhanced practicality and a commanding road presence on both urban and off-road terrain.

Positioned as a premium compact SAV, the MINI Countryman Rugged Edition embodies MINI’s take on adventure-ready versatility, where design, technology and capability meet to deliver a truly distinctive driving experience.

The Rugged Edition is available in both MINI Countryman C and Countryman S engine variants, with two trim levels: Classic Trim (C and S) and Favoured Trim (S only).

Power and performance

The MINI Countryman C features a 1,499 cc three-cylinder petrol engine, developing 115 kW and 230 Nm of torque, capable of 0–100 km/h in nine seconds.

The more powerful MINI Countryman S, equipped with a 1,998 cc four-cylinder petrol engine and ALL4 all-wheel drive, produces 150 kW and 300 Nm of torque, sprinting from 0–100 km/h in just 7.4 seconds. Both engine variants are paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission for smooth, responsive performance.

The adventurer lives on

“The MINI Countryman has always embodied the spirit of adventure. It’s for those who see every trip as an opportunity to discover something new. With the Rugged Edition, we’re inviting more modern adventurers into the MINI family,” said Bhavyesh Lalla, Product Manager at MINI South Africa.

The MINI Countryman Rugged Edition is now available to order at buy.mini.co.za. To explore the full MINI Countryman range, visit www.mini.co.za.

Prices (incl. VAT and CO₂ tax):

• MINI Countryman C (Classic) Rugged Edition: R833,903.10
• MINI Countryman S (Classic) Rugged Edition: R953,928.30
• MINI Countryman S (Favoured) Rugged Edition: R989,938.30

Munich. With deep respect for craftsmanship, culture, and the communities that shape them, the partnership between MINI John Cooper Works and Deus Ex Machina comes to life through two customised one-off cars – rolling expressions of a lifestyle where a love of speed meets creativity and considered design. Built not just for performance, but for the people who live and breathe it.

“MINI models have always been characterised by a blend of creative design and motorsport dynamics,’ explains Stefan Richmann, Head of MINI. “Thanks to our collaboration with Deus Ex Machina, we are taking this philosophy to a new level and setting exciting new trends for fans and motorsport enthusiasts. The partners are united by their “passion for machines, innovation and creativity” and an authentic relationship with their own community,” says Stefan Richmann.

Purist, functional and graphic design approach.
Both vehicle concepts are based on a MINI John Cooper Works model: the first, a MINI JCW Electric with up to 190 kW, the second, a combustion engine-powered MINI JCW with 170 kW. Each vehicles roof features a large white ‘X’, a connecting element, which signals a significant design and co-creation: the co-creation process between two iconic brands in their own right: MINI JCW x DEUS.

"In this extraordinary collaboration, we showcase two vehicles that remind us of motorsport history and successes of MINI. Every single detail has been crafted with artisanal precision and expertise. This has resulted in unique characters that are clearly perceived as belonging together through their distinctive design language and use of graphics," says Holger Hampf, Head of MINI Design.

Visible seams, striking switches and traditional levers emphasise the mechanical character of the cockpits. The materials and colours utilised throughout the vehicles create bold contrasts: a deliberate break with high gloss. Instead of perfection, authenticity is at the forefront: designers speak of a ‘raw, handcrafted approach’ that celebrates the ‘beauty of imperfection’. On the exterior, expressive graphics consisting of numbers, geometric elements and bright colours pay homage to MINIs racing history.

The MINI JCW X DEUS one-off cars.
Built as a pair - kindred in spirit, opposite in energy. One born of the coast: shaped by surfboards, sea spray, and the stripped-back rhythm of beach life. The other is forged on the track: lean, fast, and fuelled by a love of speed and precision.

The Skeg – sleek, electric, coast-bound.
The electric powered show car ‘The Skeg’ is a clean, minimal and quiet rebellion, drawing on materials, technologies and philosophies from the world of surfing: Fiberglass, acceleration and minimalism.

The vehicle's bodywork lands a bold first impression in a vivid yellow and silver finish – a nod to MINI’s progressive take on electric mobility. Wide fenders, an illuminated front grille, and a roof spoiler sharpen the silhouette, while semi-transparent fiberglass panels strip 15% of the car’s weight and refine its aerodynamic performance. 

At the rear, the Flex Tip Surf Spoiler responds to airflow much like a surfboard rides the contours of a wave. Its form draws from the concave underside of a board, redirecting movement, generating lift, and turning design into function.

Tension straps across the roof reference the familiar ritual of tying down a surfboard after a session, while remaining a characteristic design detail of the new MINI family, featured as an accent on the dashboard and in the 6 o'clock spoke of the steering wheel.

Custom-made fibreglass elements on the roof, front, rear, and interior create a shifting play of light: translucent, strong, and responsive to time of day and environment, while the dashboard itself borrows directly from surfboard construction: lightweight, resilient, and visually distinctive.

The Interior.
Inside, the analogue controls are stripped back – simple, tactile, and true to purpose, reflecting a surf culture that prioritises purpose over polish.

The car resembles a mobile surf shop. An example of the thoughtful functionality is the fibreglass trays for wetsuits. The specially shaped shelves provide a practical storage solution and bring the surf culture into the interior. The neoprene upholstery in the lightweight racing bucket seats – flexible, water-repellent, and comfortable – also creates a tactile connection to surfing.

The fibreglass dashboard transfers the technology of surfboard construction into the automotive sector.

The oversized ‘X’ returns as a visual anchor, while Deus Collection badges and 3D-printed details in the console serve as subtle signifiers of a shared culture – one grounded in craft, connection, and the pursuit of the ride.

The Machina - loud, low, combustion-fed.
The Machina, a John Cooper Works that packs a compact punch of raw mechanics and motorsport bloodline. Inspired by the aesthetics of motorsport, it stands for pure racing enthusiasm and authentic functionality.

The exterior: signature elements with links to the racing scene.
The exterior design pays homage to the motorsport heritage of the MINI brand. Every characteristic feature has been carefully selected with a focus on functionality and emotional appeal.

The red, white and black paintwork, complete with bold accents and Deus lettering on the rear, makes an immediate impression. Classic widened fenders nod to racing heritage, blending form and function, while four additional headlights mounted on the bonnet pay tribute to rally sport roots. Each custom-built light pod features subtle Deus branding, offering both performance and a distinctive visual signature.

At the rear, the diffuser draws inspiration from the MINI JCW race car that tore through the legendary Nordschleife. Beyond its aggressive stance, it’s designed to optimise airflow and stability, with the centrally integrated exhaust serving as both a functional and aesthetic focal point, amplifying the engine’s sound and presence.

Up front, a bespoke grille and perforated headlight surrounds enhance cooling performance, while the iconic MINI John Cooper Works light signature, complete with air intakes, anchors the car firmly in MINI’s high-performance lineage. Topping it off is a Can-Am-style rear spoiler: a bold piece of motorsport nostalgia that nods to an era when innovation in racing pushed both design and engineering to the edge.

The Interior: Inside the JCW show car, the red, white and black palette holds strong - pared-back, purposeful, and unmistakably John Cooper Works. The five-point racing harnesses secure the driver, and ultimately become part of the driving experience, wrapping the body in precision.

Raw aluminium floor plates offer more than grip, rather they echo the utilitarian aesthetic found in Deus’ custom motorcycle workshops from Sydney to Venice Beach to Canggu, grounding the car in a shared language of performance and craft.

Weight-saving is built into every surface, from the stripped-back door panels marked with bold white ‘X’ motifs, to the waxed fabric dash – lightweight, durable, and finished with a lived-in patina that speaks to hands-on workmanship. Overhead, the exposed roll cage adds structure and statement in equal measure - a safety feature that nods to the car’s unfiltered racing DNA.

The show car's controls speak a clear language of functionality and directness. Every switch and every button is designed to function intuitively and reliably, even under extreme conditions.

Toggle switches are classic elements – no complex menus, just direct, mechanical connections between thought and action. Each button has a clear function. A classic example, the hydraulic handbrake with its large lever, acting as a direct connection between driver and vehicle - a commitment to precision and control. The JCW show car is a driving manifesto and a tribute to the motorsport DNA of the MINI brand.

Concentrated creativity for two extraordinary designer pieces.
In collaboration with the MINI design team, BMW Group subsidiary Designworks provided creative impetus with unconventional ideas for the project. Deus’ Creative Director Carby Tuckwell and his wider creative cohort oversaw the striking exterior graphics of the unique cars – led by Matt Willey – and complemented the work – an outcome that truly reflects extraordinary design dynamics and remarkable solutions across the two vehicles.

“Deus has had a longstanding creative partnership with Matt - one powered by a true respect for the power of design and art. Having him involved in this project, for us, was a no-brainer - he worked closely with myself and the Deus team on our first creative project that was splashed across a MINI car in 2023.” – Carby Tuckwell, Deus Co-Founder and Creative Director

Deus x Matt Willey: The fascination of historic racing.
Deus’ Carby Tuckwell and Matt Willey have been working together since 2015. United by their fascination with classic motorsport liveries, they created a historic Mini Cooper S racing car in 2023 with a special paint finish designed by Willey. The design references the glorious and victorious history of the classic Mini at the Monte Carlo Rally, including the number 37, with which Paddy Hopkirk started in 1964 and achieved the British small car's first overall victory in the most famous of all rallies.

Matt Willey, a native of England who lives in Brooklyn, became a partner at the renowned design firm Pentagram after five years as art director of the New York Times Magazine.

A Shared Vision Becomes Fabric.
Woven into the partnership is a capsule MINI x Deus Ex Machina apparel collection, set to launch on September 8, 2025, at IAA in Munich, before becoming available globally via Deus Ex Machina’s e-commerce and retail network. Designed exclusively for the collaboration, the range draws on the shared DNA of both brands – precision engineering, timeless styling, and obsessive attention to detail. High-grade materials and thoughtful tailoring provide the benchmark for the range, with every garment reflecting Deus’ commitment to craftsmanship and its reputation for creating apparel that moves between lifestyle and legacy. With a deep understanding of storytelling through design, Deus brings authenticity and cultural relevance to the capsule, bridging the worlds of motorsport and modern apparel in a way that feels both current and enduring.

You can be first after me.
The highlight of the MINI JCW x DEUS project's communication campaign will be the world premiere at IAA Mobility 2025 with the exclusive MINI JCW x DEUS Night on 6 September at the MINI Pavilion. The MINI JCW x DEUS collaboration will be on display at the MINI Pavilion until 14 September.

The exclusive MINI x DEUS lifestyle collection will be on sale in the same premises as well as online on all DEUS channels and in their sales rooms.

‘You can be first after me’ – the motto that unites the worlds of MINI and Deus Ex Machina. Their shared history has begun and promises further exciting chapters in the name of automotive passion.

Gauteng is set to encounter an extraordinary MINI experience. All drivers of MINIs young and old are invited to join the biggest convoy of MINIs to hit South African roads on Sunday, 14 September 2025.

MINI owners will meet at the BMW x Drive Park in Midrand by 08:30, before driving in convoy to The Ground in Muldersdrift on Gauteng’s West Rand at 09:30. At The Ground, these cars – ranging from classic Minis to the new MINI family – will recreate the iconic MINI wordmark. Furthermore, MINI owners will be able to explore various activations and enjoy the day with fellow MINI family members.

Head of MINI Carmen Myles said: “The MINI Breakfast Drive is an appreciation for our heritage and a chance to make history alongside our passionate MINI community. It embodies our Big Love for the brand and the unique experiences that only a MINI can offer. This is about more than cars; it’s about celebrating MINI with friends.”

The MINI Breakfast Drive honours the cultural MINI moments of community, lifestyle and individuality. It’s about demonstrating MINI’s “We are all different, but pretty good together” philosophy.

Be sure to register your MINI (or Mini) and get the latest updates on the MINI Breakfast Drive by following MINI South Africa on Instagram or Facebook.

Nürburg. 24 hours and over 130 racing cars on the 25.378-kilometre Nürburgring: the MINI John Cooper Works and Bulldog Racing cockpit for the 2025 24-hour race in the ‘Green Hell’ is manned by four excellent racing professionals. Among them: True Nürburgring connoisseurs and young talents:

• Samantha Tan (CAN) is a champion racing driver and team owner of ‘Samantha Tan Racing’ at just 27 years old. Her involvement as a driver for MINI John Cooper Works and Bulldog Racing is a spectacular premiere at the 24 Hours Race at the Nürburgring. Tan has celebrated international sporting successes in the 24H Series, the 12H Mugello, GT World Challenge America and GT World Challenge Europe. With hundreds of thousands of global fans and followers, she is an idol inspiring the next generation to chase their dreams fearlessly. Her expansive experience in challenging endurance races provides the perfect conditions for the Canadian to compete in this year's 24 Hours Race at the Nürburgring.
  
  
• Markus Fischer (AUT) could achieve his second consecutive class victory in the ‘Green Hell’ after 2024. Fischer set the fastest lap in his team in the #317 MINI John Cooper Works Pro in 2024. The 24 Hours Race is always a ‘highlight of the season’ for the Austrian.
  
  
• Sebastian Sauerbrei (GER) knows the Nürburgring and the 24 Hours Race like no other - even in challenging conditions. His experience, which he has gained on many test kilometres on the race track, should pay off again this year for the experienced racing driver and the MINI and Bulldog Racing team.
  
  
• Toby Goodman (GBR) can already look back on impressive successes at the age of 23 - including at the Nürburgring. He started his racing career at the age of ten. In his racing debut, Goodman drove to a sensational third place in the MINI Challenge Trophy in 2018. Since then, the Brit has regularly secured coveted podium finishes, including in the challenging endurance series.

Munich. MINI John Cooper Works will compete again at this year's 53rd edition of the 24 Hours race at the Nürburgring. Last year, MINI achieved a spectacular triumph in the SP-3T class of the race with the near-production #317 MINI John Cooper Works Pro. The so-called "Green Hell" offers one of the toughest tests in motorsport with fast straights, demanding curves, and significant elevation changes. The successful cooperation with the Bulldog Racing Team will also continue this year.

MINI x DEUS: Spectacular Appearance.
At the starting line of this year's race, the MINI John Cooper Works will attract attention with a specially designed livery, while the Bulldog Racing Team will be exclusively dressed in the brands new season collection. The partnership is a glimpse into something the two brands MINI x DEUS are building toward.

"Our models have always been characterised by the combination of design and dynamics. Our MINI John Cooper Works, which will compete in the 24 Hours race at the Nürburgring, takes this combination to the next level: Thanks to this collaboration with Deus Ex Machina, we are setting new, exciting impulses for MINI fans and motorsport enthusiasts. Both brands are characterised by creativity and attention to detail, which allows the creation of exclusive designs with a distinctly individual style," explains Stefan Richmann, Head of MINI.

Racing DNA meets exclusive design.
For this year's 24 Hours race at the Nürburgring, the high-performance orientation of MINI John Cooper Works is combined with the passion and craftsmanship of Deus Ex Machina. The design team has pursued a consistent black and white approach in the design of the vehicle livery. The enlarged "DEUS" logo dominates the design as a graphic element and becomes more than just a wordmark. The unconventional, playful handling of the brand presence is typical of DEUS and gives the MINI 24 Hours race car its visual identity this year. The reduced black and white color scheme ensures that additional elements such as starting numbers or team logos are harmoniously integrated into the overall image. Hand-drawn logos on windows and other surfaces underline the raw, conceptual character of the race car, making it appear like a "moving sketchbook". This is intended to suggest that the Nürburgring 24 Hours race car is just a foretaste. It is the perfect first milestone in the MINI x DEUS cooperation.

For the design of the race car livery, MINI Design collaborated with Designworks. The BMW Group subsidiary has elaborated the creative idea of DEUS in detail. "Successful brand collaborations arise when partners inspire and drive each other forward. With DEUS, MINI and Designworks, we were able to unleash a remarkable design dynamic. The DEUS livery of the MINI John Cooper Works at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring is just the first proof of this," says Holger Hampf, Head of MINI Design.

MINI Continues Its Racing Heritage.
With its appearance, MINI is continuing its long-standing racing heritage. The brand has been considered an underdog in motorsports from the very beginning - and yet it has written motorsport history. The 1964 Monte Carlo Rally became a shining moment for the British Outsider. With its transversely mounted front engine and front-wheel drive, the classic Mini was the epitome of a practical small car - and proved to be a successful race car thanks to the ingenious racing engineer John Cooper. The victory in the Monte Carlo Rally was not a mere whim of fate, but the result of meticulous work. This was followed by two more victories in the famous rally in 1965 and 1967. The tradition and passion for MINI's racing heritage is still palpable and tangible in the current models. The latest MINI John Cooper Works models are characterised by their aerodynamic precision and performance-oriented four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo petrol engine.

Munich/Shanghai. This year's Auto Shanghai has plenty in store for MINI fans. From icons such as the MINI Cooper 3-Door and the Cooper 5-Door all the way to the newest member of the MINI family, the MINI Aceman, MINI enthusiasts can admire the full range of the brand's product portfolio from 23 April to 2 May.

This year’s focus is on the MINI John Cooper Works sub-brand. A racing-oriented area, entirely in red, imbues the high-performance segment with its unique dynamic. It unmistakably reflects the brand's motorsport DNA.

MINI John Cooper Works: Born on the racetrack, raised on the streets .
In its motor show appearance, MINI is particularly highlighting the new generation of John Cooper Works models. At the same time, it is honouring the brand's motorsport history. A classic Mini that was used in the legendary Monte Carlo Rally will be displayed in the highlight area. Additionally, the MINI John Cooper Works Pro, which won its class at the legendary 24 hours race on the Nürburgring last year, will be displayed.

John Cooper Works now also fully electric.
MINI is presenting the first two fully John Cooper Works models. With the MINI John Cooper Works Electric and the MINI John Cooper Works Aceman, racing enthusiasts now have the choice between two fully electric high-performance models for the first time. Through their powerful electric powertrains, they embody MINI's ongoing pursuit of performance and innovation. The electric boost function provides an additional 20kW of power, giving the models an especially high-performance drive.

MINI John Cooper Works Aceman. 
The MINI JCW Aceman combines electric high performance with creative use of space. The progressive design of the newest member of the MINI family transports the brand's core idea into the present: maximising the interior space within a minimum footprint, combined with an innovative drive concept.  The John Cooper Works variant of the MINI Aceman achieves a top speed of 200 km/h and sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.4 seconds. Visitors can once again interactively experience the MINI Experience Modes around the all-electric MINI John Cooper Works Aceman. The focus here is on the new John Cooper Works Mode, which exclusively transfers MINI's motorsport DNA into the JCW models.

The MINI John Cooper Works Electric and the MINI John Cooper Works Aceman models have not been confirmed for the South African market. 

The MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4: Sporty Performance meets thoughtful comfort.
The largest member of the John Cooper Works family, the MINI JCW Countryman ALL4 in traditional British Racing Green reminds of the brand's motorsport history and stands out with its impressive interior space. The generous rear-seat legroom in the model provides passengers in the back with ample space. The versatile luggage compartment creates more room for a sporty adventure.

Also on display: the MINI Cooper Convertible.
As the most emotional model in the MINI family, the MINI Cooper Convertible is celebrating its motor show premiere at Auto Shanghai 2025. The open four-seater embodies MINI's openness and is therefore fully in line with its 'Always Open' philosophy. Thanks to the powerful four-cylinder petrol engine and the open-top roof, the MINI Cooper Convertible S provides an unmistakable open-air driving experience.

At Auto Shanghai 2025, MINI fans also can take a look at the new MINI JCW Lifestyle Collection, which will be presented alongside a MINI JCW Countryman ALL4. The JCW Lifestyle Collection brings MINI's racing passion into everyday life.

Midrand.  The new MINI Aceman combines compact exterior dimensions with as much room as possible for occupants and an all-electric drive. The result is a contemporary interpretation of classic Mini inventor Sir Alec Issigonis’ underlying vision: maximum use of space with a minimum footprint combined with a modern drive concept. The progressive design of the new MINI Aceman provides space for five comfortable seats within a vehicle length of just over four metres. MINI draws on innovative technologies to enhance the interior with an immersive digital user experience, while the MINI Aceman’s all-electric drive gives a fresh boost to the characteristic MINI go-kart feeling. Combined with modern assistance systems and hallmark design, traditional brand values pave the way for an all-electric MINI future.

From the outside, the MINI Aceman embodies sporty agility and a self-assured presence. The vehicle architecture of the new crossover model is based on a fully electric drive concept.

Measuring just under four metres in length, the new MINI Aceman has five seats and a versatile luggage compartment with a load volume of 300 litres, while numerous adjustment options enable this capacity to be extended individually to as much as 1,005 litres. With a predicted range of up to 406 kilometres in the WLTP test cycle, the MINI Aceman is perfectly equipped for locally emission-free mobility beyond the city limits, too.

To read more about the all-electric MINI Aceman, please click:

https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

Prices at launch:

Munich. To coincide with the launch of the new MINI John Cooper Works family, MINI is presenting a new MINI JCW Lifestyle Collection. Together with the new MINI Wordmark products, the collection perfectly complements the current MINI Lifestyle Collection. In addition to the collection, two models from the new MINI family are now available as pull-back cars in miniature format for toy enthusiasts and collectors: the MINI Cooper SE and the MINI Aceman SE.

The products of the MINI Lifestyle Collection presented in 2024 are already characterised by graphic details of the vehicle design. The main motif of the collection is based on the front of the MINI Cooper. The colour concept is based on the high-contrast colour scheme of the MINI family.

Motorsport living: The new MINI JCW Lifestyle Collection.

The textiles in the MINI John Cooper Works Lifestyle Collection are based on the colour concept of the John Cooper Works design with the classic colours Black, White and JCW Red. The distinctive JCW logo print is a central element of the collection design and adorns the JCW Logo T-shirts, for example. Special attention has been paid to quality and environmental friendliness: The white T-shirt is made from 100% certified organic cotton, while the black T-shirt is made from a blend of 50% recycled and 50% organic cotton. For younger MINI fans, the white T-shirt made from 100% organic cotton features a red (racing) stripe next to the iconic MINI logo. The new JCW Logo Hoodie is the perfect choice for when the weather turns cooler.

The new bags in the MINI JCW Lifestyle Collection express the sporty character of MINI and are the perfect companions for many occasions with their thoughtful organisation and functionality. In addition to the distinctive JCW logo, the John Cooper Works seat pattern woven into the lining gives the products a stylish and premium look. The padded JCW Logo Organiser Pouch with custom strap and reflective stripe print helps keep things organised and to hand. From the padded laptop compartment to the water bottle pocket, the JCW Logo Backpack with its soft padded back and adjustable shoulder straps is the ideal everyday companion. The collection is complemented by the JCW Logo Traveller bag with a detachable shoulder strap, removable pouch and trolley strap.

The MINI JCW Lifestyle Collection also offers a range of practical and stylish accessories. In addition to the JCW Logo Keyring with enamel logo, there is also a JCW Foldable Umbrella and a JCW Walking Stick Umbrella with reflective stripes, which has been proven to provide reliable protection in strong winds - tested in a wind tunnel to withstand wind speeds of up to 120 km/h. The JCW Logo Travel Mug is available in 300ml and 500ml capacities.

Classic design elements rethought: Unmistakably MINI with the new MINI Wordmark Lifestyle Add-ons 2025.

The new MINI Wordmark range plays with the letters of the MINI brand and uses them in surprising and humorous ways on the products. The MINI Wordmark Polo Shirt features contrasting knitted MINI lettering on both sides of the collar. The black MINI Wordmark Jacket is a fashionable companion for the changing seasons. The jacket features a cleverly placed reflective MINI Wordmark print on the back and hood.

Sporty fun for little MINI fans.

Even the youngest MINI fans can experience pure driving fun and go-kart feeling. The MINI ALL4 Baby Bike in bright Chilli Red is the ideal companion for children aged 18 months and over. With its robust powder coating and ergonomic seat with carry handle, it offers maximum safety. The next challenge is the MINI Aluminium Balance Bike. It features a strong yet lightweight aluminium frame and signature MINI design elements. For the youngest MINI fans there is the MINI Baby Racer. With white stripes on the bonnet and a child-safe steering wheel, the Baby Racer combines safety with pure driving fun. The length-adjustable handlebar can be easily attached to the Baby Racer, allowing parents to steer their young MINI fans safely and comfortably.

The new products in the MINI Lifestyle Collection will be available in South Africa from June 2025.

The fifth generation of the MINI Cooper stands for simplicity at its charismatic best. Typical MINI proportions evoke the brand's history. Together with the striking front grille, they give the new model its distinctive face. Minimalist design, digital innovations and an immersive user experience are the hallmarks of the interior.

Within the new model family, MINI designates the performance levels of its petrol engines for the MINI Cooper using the letter C and for the performance-enhanced model using the letter S. The attractive powertrain portfolio of the new three-door MINI is thus complemented by two efficient petrol engines with a choice of three or four cylinders. The brand's iconic go-kart feeling is brought to the road in the new generation MINI. The MINI Cooper's minimalist design is a combination of traditional brand values and impressive clarity.

MINI Cooper SE

The all-electric MINI Cooper SE stands for emission-free mobility and urban driving pleasure.

With 160 kW and 330 Nm of maximum torque, the MINI Cooper SE is way out in front with zero emissions, especially with its ability to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds. The high-voltage battery installed in the MINI Cooper SE with an energy content of 54.2 kWh enables a range of up to 402 kilometres as determined in the WLTP test cycle. To give your MINI a particularly sporty look it can be ordered in John Cooper Works Trim. With many details the equipment variant emphasises the brand's motorsport genes – achieved through numerous racing successes, including three victories at the Monte Carlo Rally in the 1960s.

Prices in South Africa start at: 

All prices include 15% VAT and exclude CO2 tax, where applicable. 

Munich. Just in time for the Paris Motor Show from 14 October to 20 October, MINI is presenting two new top models. Both the MINI John Cooper Works Electric and the MINI John Cooper Works Aceman offer up to 190 kW, along with compelling acceleration and top speed figures to underline the claim to leadership in their vehicle class. The vehicle architecture of the all-electric MINI models is perfectly suited to the consistently performance-oriented characteristics of the John Cooper Works models. The MINI 3 door sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.9* seconds, while the MINI John Cooper Works Aceman reaches 100 km/h from a standing start in 6.4* seconds. Both models have a top speed of 200* km/h and system torque of 350 Nm. The high-voltage batteries, each with an energy content of 54.2 kWh (gross), provide the MINI John Cooper Works Electric with a range of up to 371* kilometres determined in the WLTP test cycle and up to 355* kilometres for the MINI John Cooper Works Aceman.

"With the new all-electric MINI John Cooper Works models, we are bringing the legendary performance and driving dynamics of MINI into a completely new era. We are combining the tradition and character of the MINI brand with the latest technology to create a unique driving experience that will thrill our customers”, says Stefan Richmann, Head of MINI.

With the development of the new fully electric models, MINI John Cooper Works is following a long racing tradition. More than six decades ago, the sports car designer John Cooper developed an extremely sporty version of the classic Mini, which quickly achieved considerable success on racetracks and rally courses. Its legendary status was cemented by three overall victories at the Monte Carlo Rally in the 1960s. Most recently, a prototype based on the new MINI John Cooper Works demonstrated the brand's engineering prowess by winning its class at the Nürburgring 24-hour race.

Maximum performance thanks to innovative motorsport technology.
John Cooper Works transfers successful expertise from the racetrack to the road. In the all-electric models of the new MINI family, this includes an innovative electric boost function for impressive strong power delivery.
The driver activates the go-kart mode by pressing the boost paddle on the sport steering wheel. An additional 20 kW of electric power is then available for overtaking manoeuvres and performance-boosting acceleration. This provides unique high-acceleration driving fun.

John Cooper Works-specific suspension settings maximise the go-kart feeling and ensure agile handling. High performance, high grip tyres are standard on both models. A powerful braking system in Chili Red with white JCW logo ensures precise and safe deceleration even in demanding driving situations.

Emphasis on sporty design and optimised aerodynamics.
The focus on top performance is underlined on the outside by the particularly clear design language of the fully electric MINI John Cooper Works models. The red, white and black John Cooper Works logo is reminiscent of the chequered flag in motorsport and adorns the octagonal front grille in high-gloss black. As a welcome projection from the exterior mirrors, the illuminated logo greets the driver even before he gets into the car.

The daytime running lights of the MINI LED headlights feature horizontal bars in JCW Signature and enhance the expressive look of the performance-enhanced model. Black side skirts, aeroblades at the level of the C-pillar and the accentuated rear spoiler optimise the aerodynamics. Red vertical reflectors and diffusers contrast with the black rear apron.

A contrasting roof in Chili Red or a John Cooper Works-specific multi-tone roof with a red and black gradient can be used to enhance the sporty design. Aerodynamically optimised wheel designs are available exclusively for the all-electric MINI John Cooper Works Electric in 18-inch and in 19-inch size for the MINI John Cooper Works Aceman.

Racing-inspired interior.
The purist design of the interior echoes the JCW-specific colour scheme. A black and red pattern adorns the knitted surface of the dashboard. When the ambient lighting is switched on, the light graphics illuminate the panoramic roof as an exclusive feature. The JCW driver and front passenger seats are upholstered in black synthetic leather with multicoloured knitted fabric at the shoulders and red accent stitching.

The high-resolution OLED display with a diameter of 240 mm summarises all relevant vehicle data. The driver and front passenger can access air conditioning, media, phone and navigation settings via the central instrument. The new MINI Experience Modes allow the ambience in the interior to be customised.

Advanced assistance systems.
Innovative assistance systems in the new, all-electric John Cooper Works models also support the driver when not driving in sporty mode. Automatic speed and distance control make driving in everyday traffic situations even more comfortable. On the road, the MINI Navigation package optionally provides support with 3D visualisation and Augmented View displays the current traffic situation, provides information about parking options including digital payment options, and much more besides. Extensive assistance functions increase safety by supporting steering and lane keeping as part of the comprehensive Driving Assistant Plus package.

Parking Assistant Professional uses twelve ultrasonic sensors and four surround view cameras to detect suitable parking spaces and automatically initiate parking manoeuvres if required.

* Performance data provided is provisional.

Both the MINI John Cooper Works Electric and the MINI John Cooper Works Aceman are not yet confirmed for South Africa. 

Munich. The new generation of the MINI Cooper Convertible rounds off the current MINI family with a model that is full of unique features. MINI presents the new convertible model that perfectly embodies the brand's openness. "Always Open" - this traditional claim of the MINI Convertible aptly describes the model’s philosophy. The folding roof opens fully automatically in just 18 seconds, allowing the driver to enjoy the breeze and sunshine at all times. Whether in the city, on country roads or on the highway, the MINI Convertible offers pure freedom and unmistakable driving pleasure.

The open-top four-seater combines space-saving proportions with fascinating open-air driving fun. With the MINI Cooper Convertible, one of the most emotional models in the new MINI family returns to the MINI plant in Oxford - the home of the British premium brand.

"We are very proud to offer our customers a true convertible in the current MINI family. Our new MINI Cooper Convertible offers unmistakable, hallmark driving fun, coupled with boundless freedom and great emotions: Always Open. Iconic design combined with modern technology and connectivity make this vehicle an unrivalled experience for our customers," says Stefan Richmann, Head of the MINI brand.

For an extra dose of sunshine, the fully automatic soft top can be opened in two ways: either like a sunroof or fully retracted. This is still unique in the premium small car segment. The soft top disappears behind the rear seats to save space and can also be conveniently stowed in the luggage compartment when folded down.

In the new MINI Cooper Convertible, open-air fans can enjoy every moment, even with the soft top folded back. MINI is using the Always Open Timer again for exactly this purpose. On the OLED display of the central instrument, this shows the open travel time traveled by the minute and thus offers fresh air fans a dose of playful ease.

Two efficient four-cylinder petrol engines deliver the brand's signature go-kart feel. The convertible is available in C and S versions. 

The design emphasises the character of the new MINI Cooper Convertible with clean surfaces and accentuated details. Round LED headlights and a redesigned front grille emphasise the model's charismatic appearance with classic design features in a modern interpretation. A variety of exterior paint finishes, interior trims and fresh accents lend the new Convertible the brand's signature design highlights. Three vehicle trims offer additional options for customising the MINI Cooper Convertible.

The fully automatic soft top can be activated at the touch of a button and can also be fully retracted at speeds of up to 30 km/h. When the roof is closed, the sunroof function can be used at any time with an opening length of up to 40 centimetres. A wind deflector between the cockpit and the rear optimises airflow for a carefree open-air feeling at all four seats. Innovative driver assistance systems make driving the MINI Cooper Convertible even safer and more comfortable. A significant increase in digital technologies creates new possibilities for personalising the interior and simplifies the use of smartphones and apps. 

The exterior.
Charismatic convertible with purist design.
Compact proportions, short overhangs and bigger wheels give the MINI Cooper Convertible plenty of agility and manoeuvrability for maximum driving fun. With its focussed expression, the front end signals openness and shapes the charismatic character of the new MINI Cooper Convertible with high recognition value. Newly designed exterior details enhance the striking appearance of the model, which is unique in the premium small car segment. 

The shoulder line continues into the lower part of the black soft top. This separates the surrounding window area from the cleanly designed body. This three-part exterior is typical of the brand. It makes the MINI Cooper Convertible an unmistakable original. The woven fabric soft top is available in black and optional with a grey Union Jack, a nod to the brand's British origins.

Hallmark design with expressive highlights.
The front end of the MINI Cooper Convertible shows the typical face of the brand with its iconic round headlights and the newly designed front grille. The octagonal-shaped surround encompasses the wide air inlets in either Vibrant Silver or high-gloss Jet Black.

Standard LED headlights with light signatures are available in three versions to emphasise the car's character. A specially orchestrated welcome and goodbye animation with MINI logo projections on the floor of the driver's and passenger's side enhances the emotional connection to the MINI Cooper Convertible even before you get in.

From the side, the clean lines of the sporty body are characterised by the striking contrast between the short overhangs and the long wheelbase. The reduced design of the body emphasises the elegant impression of the vehicle's silhouette and gives the MINI Cooper Convertible a generous appearance despite its small exterior dimensions of 3,879 mm in length, 1,431 mm in height and 1,744 mm in width. To match the unmistakable driving fun, the new MINI Convertible is available with aerodynamically optimised wheel designs in sizes ranging from 16 to 18 inches, depending on the model variant.

The rear view is characterised by the flush design of the vertically aligned LED rear lights. The rear section is divided by a black handle strip with striking model badge, whose horizontal alignment emphasises the MINI Cooper Convertible's wide stance.

Fully automatic fabric soft top for safe driving fun.
The high-quality soft top protects the occupants in all weathers. Thanks to its electric and extremely quiet drive, the folding roof can be fully opened in 18 seconds, even at speeds of up to 30 km/h. At the same time, the window bars and side windows are lowered to provide a completely unobstructed view of the surroundings. The soft top closes in 15 seconds at the touch of a button. For fresh air at all times, the sunroof can be opened to a length of 40 centimetres, regardless of speed. 

Concealed behind the headrests at the rear of the MINI Cooper Convertible, the integrated rollover protection system is activated automatically as soon as the central safety electronics detect a risk of rollover.

When the soft top is open, the MINI Cooper Convertible has a luggage compartment volume of 160 litres thanks to a particularly space-saving folding system for the soft top, when the soft top is closed, this expands to 215 litres. To maximise the loading height of the luggage compartment, the storage area behind the rear seats can be raised using two locking handles. The tailgate opens downwards to facilitate loading, demonstrating once again the versatility of the MINI Cooper Convertible. The wind deflector behind the driver and passenger seats can be easily locked in place. It reduces wind noise and unwanted air turbulence when driving with the roof open.

A dozen body finishes and three individual trims.
Twelve paint finishes are available for the new MINI Cooper Convertible, including the exclusive and elegant Copper Grey. Optional mirror caps in Jet Black and Glazed White make a strong statement. Three different trims further enhance the Convertible's sporty-elegant individuality. The Classic Trim features a black-trimmed front grille for maximum clarity. The Favoured Trim front grille version is in Vibrant Silver grille with a choice of 17-inch or 18-inch wheels.

The JCW Trim gives the MINI Cooper Convertible an extremely sporty appearance. This equipment variant inspired by motorsports has its very own distinctive front and rear design. The front grille surround and JCW logo are finished in high-gloss black. The rear section is muscular in shape and the all-round trim is finished in high-gloss black.

The interior.
Minimalist, open feel that makes you feel at home.
The interior design of the new MINI Cooper Convertible focusses on minimalist details and textile surfaces. This is part of the new "Charismatic Simplicity" design language of the entire MINI family with fewer components, clever design and high-quality workmanship. Three key elements structure the cockpit: A sporty steering wheel, the central OLED display and the classic, newly designed toggle switch bar.

Directly behind the steering wheel, the optional Head-up Display projects all relevant information into the driver's field of vision. This means that the dashboard on the driver's side does not require an additional instrument panel and, in keeping with the open-top driving fun, allows a clear view to the front.  The textile surfaces in the cockpit are based on a newly developed knitted material and create a pleasant atmosphere. The two-tone fabric is made from recycled polyester and has an easy-care texture.

Comfortable seats for the driver and front passenger add to the modern, airy feel of the well-designed cockpit. There is a choice of grey or black seats in a combination of artificial leather and textile silhouette in blue. The JCW sport seats are available in beige and Nightshade Blue synthetic leather with contrasting stitching. In the JCW Trim, the sport seats are upholstered in black leather with multicoloured knitted fabric on the shoulders and red stitching.

High-resolution OLED display with touch function.
The new central instrument in the cockpit of the MINI Cooper Convertible combines innovative technologies in an extremely flat design. The high-quality 240 mm diameter glass surface allows the driver and front passenger to operate all vehicle functions conveniently by touch or voice. The innovative MINI Operating System 9 simplifies connectivity and brings apps and digital content from the smartphone to the display. This turns the MINI Interaction Unit into both a comfort and experience centre. 

Thanks to advanced OLED technology, the contents of the display are high-contrast and easy to see, even with the soft top open and in bright sunlight. Speed is displayed at the top of the screen, and tapping on the speed display opens a large full-screen speedometer that focusses on the driving experience. The other widgets are shown in thumbnail view in the Home menu, to the left and right of the current menu function. These can be moved to the centre and selected by means of a horizontal swiping movement. In the lower area of the OLED display, the menu items Navigation, Media, Telephone and Climate can be selected directly at any time.

MINI Experience Modes create immersive driving experiences.
Seven MINI Experience Modes can be selected to change the interior ambience and highlight different aspects of the MINI Cooper Convertible - even with the top down. The design of the OLED display changes depending on the selected setting and focusses on specially designed driving experiences. In Go-Kart Mode there is a highly dynamic focus on MINI’s racing DNA, for example. The display as well as the dashboard and the interior door panels are then dominated by the colours anthracite and red, while specific analogue displays for driving dynamics complement this John Cooper Works-inspired MINI Experience Mode.

To achieve this, two projector units behind the round instrument panel beam special illuminated graphics with different patterns and colours onto the dashboard when the top is closed. Changes are made to the colour scheme of the light patterns and to the ambient lighting in the entire interior depending on the Experience Mode selected.

Personal Mode offers innovative options for a particularly personalised cockpit design. In this mode, a personal photo can be uploaded via the MINI app and chosen as the display background. A digital colour picker then identifies the dominant colours of the photo for projection onto the textile dashboard surfaces. The ambient lighting under the dashboard and in the door mirror is also colour-coded to match these projections.

Modern classic: Newly designed toggle switch bar.
The toggle switch bar in the centre of the cockpit is a classic and typical MINI feature. It emphasises the emotional bond between driver and car through its characteristic feel. In the modern cockpit of the MINI Cooper Convertible, this authentic feature brings the brand's history into the present with a new design. Five individually designed toggle switches provide direct access to the MINI Cooper Convertible's most important driving functions (parking brake, gear selector, start/stop button, Experience Mode toggle, volume control). This eliminates the need for an additional gear selector and provides additional stowage space in the centre console. In addition to the cupholders, smartphones can be easily stored on a separate shelf while being charged via wireless charging.

Individual trims for the interior.
Three interior trim options are available for the MINI Cooper Convertible. Each conveys the contemporary feel-good concept of the interior of the vehicle in a different way. 

In the Classic Trim, the three-spoke steering wheel has a leather-look textile band with coloured accent stitching. In addition, a black and blue knitted surface on the instrument panel and doors provides a rich contrast to the seats, which are available in premium fabric or Vescin synthetic leather.

In the Favoured Trim, the interior has a strikingly expressive design. The instrument panel is upholstered in grey-beige houndstooth fabric. The knitted surface in the door panels continues the friendly interior design. JCW sport seats with additional side noticeably enhance comfort. These are made of perforated synthetic leather with classic accent stitching and an embroidered MINI logo in two colours. 

The MINI Cooper Convertible's interior is showcased in maximum sporting style with the JCW Trim. Combined with multi-coloured knitted fabric and black synthetic leather with red stitching, the colour scheme echoes that of the dashboard and door trims. The JCW sport steering wheel replaces the six o'clock spoke with a black leather band with red stitching to match the trim-specific colour scheme.

The drive.
Two efficient four-cylinder petrol engines.
There is a choice of two advanced two-litre petrol engines for the new MINI Cooper Convertible. All have four cylinders and accelerate the fun of open-air excursions. The entry-level model is the MINI Cooper C Convertible (combined fuel consumption: 6.6 - 6.5 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 149 - 147 g/km according to WLTP) with a power output of 120 kW and maximum torque of 250 Nm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds. The top speed is 220 km/h.

The performance-enhanced MINI Cooper S Convertible (fuel consumption combined: 6.6 - 6.5 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 150 - 148 g/km according to WLTP) has a power output of 150 kW and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds with a maximum torque of 300 Nm. It has a top speed of 237 km/h.

Open-air rides with outstanding driving dynamics.
The MINI Cooper Convertible is equipped with a suspension and damping system tuned for agile handling. The MINI typical precise steering also makes the open-top model an attractive cornering artist. It also ensures a high level of safety and comfort.

Highly preloaded anti-roll bar mounts on the axles support the steering precision. This gives the convertible a well-balanced ride when cornering. Selective tuning of the steering and all stability control systems also ensure a safe and exceptional driving experience in all driving situations.

Digital services.
The new MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant.
A spoken "Hey MINI!" activates the first fully-fledged voice assistant of the brand in the MINI Cooper Convertible. Alternatively, the push-to-talk steering wheel button is also available for this purpose. Communication with the virtual travel partner – either a stylised MINI or the character “Spike” – is particularly fluent and intuitive thanks to improved speech recognition. Voice-controlled interaction is supported by animated graphic elements, typography and the avatar on the OLED display. Navigation, telephony, entertainment and numerous vehicle functions can be controlled simply and conveniently by speaking the relevant command.

The MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant learns continuously through dialogue and is able to take on day-to-day tasks on repeated routes. For example, the system uses geospatial data to identify the entrance to the car park and can automatically open the window at the right time. This means that individual routines can be handled more conveniently.

Progressive assistance systems increase safety.
The optional Driving Assistant Plus Package provides the MINI Cooper Convertible with an additional Steering and Lane Assistant for lateral guidance. Adaptable and cooperative steering helps the driver stay on track. The increased comfort provided by the system relieves the driver of monotonous and less demanding aspects of driving. The clear, uncluttered design of the displays and controls and the easy to understand functions contribute to high system reliability.

Thanks to twelve ultrasonic sensors and four Surround View cameras, the Parking Assistant Professional in the MINI Cooper Convertible can detect free parking spaces and initiate parking manoeuvres automatically where space is limited. The Panorama View allows for better visibility of the surrounding area when the view is obscured by other vehicles. For additional control over the MINI, the Remote 3D View allows images to be transferred to a mobile device.

Easy-to-use connectivity and intuitive interaction.
The newly designed user interface in the OLED display of the MINI Cooper Convertible combines functional and emotional elements. Its minimalist design adapts the new graphics to the circular shape of the MINI Interaction Unit, simplifying operation by means of a clear structure. Static and dynamic elements combined with micro-animations ensure that the interaction between the driver and the central instrument is as harmonious and intuitive as possible. In this way, the MINI Operating System 9 gives the MINI Cooper Convertible a distinctly digital character.

In the centre of the screen is the start menu, where a horizontal swiping motion is used to select and start personalised content. At the bottom of the screen is the fixed status bar with the menu items “Navigation”, “Media”, “Telephony”, “All Apps” and, depending on the situation, “Home”, all of which can be selected directly. A so-called toolbelt can be called up by swiping upwards from the bottom edge of the screen. Favourite functions, e.g. navigation destinations and radio stations, can be saved here and accessed quickly at any time, just like on the smartphone. The toolbelt can also be activated via the star button on the multifunction steering wheel. The upper screen area is reserved for driving-related content such as speed and important vehicle status information. The optional Head-up Display presents the most important information directly in the driver’s line of sight.

Depending on the Experience Mode, a single tap on the speed display transforms the entire MINI Interaction Unit into a typical MINI speedometer. The temperature is shown permanently for the driver and front passenger at the left and right-hand edge of the screen. The climate settings are always integrated at the top level of the MINI Interaction Unit and are operated by either touch or voice.

MINI Connected upgrades allow additional driving functions to be activated flexibly at any time, including an optional augmented reality function that is able to visualise complicated turning situations realistically and in three-dimensional display, for example. In conjunction with the optionally available MINI Connected Package, the digital MINI Connected Store provides access to a constantly evolving variety of practical and entertaining apps, including in the areas of gaming, music and video streaming.

The new MINI Cooper Convertible will be available in South Africa from the first quarter of 2025.

Munich/Paris. At the Mondial de l'Automobile 2024, MINI is presenting efficient and powerful electric mobility. From 14^th to 20^th of October, 2024, visitors can experience the entire range of the electric-powered model family. Starting with the world premieres of two all-electric MINI John Cooper Works models, MINI is showing with the innovative MINI Cooper SE, MINI Aceman SE and MINI Countryman SE ALL 4 the extensive product portfolio for all-electric mobility in Paris. Like no other metropolis with millions of inhabitants, the city focusses on the consistent restructuring of urban traffic. The three and five-door electric vehicles offer the brand-typical go-kart feeling in various dimensions and orientations.

Top performance, all-electric drive:
The new all-electric MINI John Cooper Works models.
With the world premiere of two purely electric vehicles, MINI John Cooper Works is transferring the brand's long racing history into the here-and-now with innovative power. The two models effortlessly transfer motorsport know-how from the racetrack to the road. In addition to the exclusive, sporty design and optimised aerodynamic driving characteristics for reduced energy consumption, MINI fans can look forward to the brand-typical, agile handling .

The all-electric MINI family:
MINI Cooper SE, MINI Aceman SE, MINI Countryman SE ALL4.
The all-electric MINI Cooper SE presents puristic MINI design with high recognition value. The all-electric three-door model offers modern driving fun with MINI typical go-kart feeling and underlines the origin of the brand with four individual vehicle trims.

The first MINI Aceman SE is the new crossover model from MINI and offers five seats on four meters length. With generous space, the vehicle bridges the gap between MINI Cooper and MINI Countryman. With the MINI Countryman SE ALL4 a reliable companion is available on all routes. A roomy and individually adjustable trunk, a range of up to 432 km and all-wheel drive complement the repertoire of the new MINI Countryman SE ALL4 optimal.

Midrand, South Africa. South Africa is about to witness a remarkable festival that will captivate the hearts and minds of MINI enthusiasts. On 7 September 2024, The Ground in Muldersdrift will host the first-ever MINI United in South Africa.

This day-long festival promises to be a celebration of MINI’s values of individuality, creativity, and community, offering a unique experience that will leave a lasting impression on all festivalgoers. There will be a blend of gourmet food trucks and local artisanal vendors, music and urban fun to mark the arrival of the new MINI Family – the versatile MINI Countryman, iconic MINI Cooper 3 Door and electric MINI Cooper – in South Africa.

Vibrant lineup and immersive experience

MINI United South Africa will be an immersive and vibrant experience, featuring a diverse lineup of talented artists catering to a wide range of musical tastes and preferences. Look forward to performances from acclaimed singer-songwriter Shekhinah, the dynamic duo Rubber Duc, and the six-piece Jagermeister Brass Cartel. Renowned DJ Kent, multi-award winner Murdah Bongz, DJ and multimedia personality Lamiez Holworthy, and Amapiano star DBN GOGO will also captivate the audience with their electrifying live performances.

"MINI has always been more than just a vehicle – it is a lifestyle, a community, and a celebration of individuality," says Carmen Myles, Head of MINI South Africa. "Since its inception in 1959, MINI has captured the hearts of drivers around the world with its unique blend of style, agility, and innovation. With MINI United, we are thrilled to bring this spirit to life in a truly South African way.

“MINI United is not just about food and entertainment – it is about connecting with like-minded individuals who share a passion for the MINI brand. It is about exploring the new MINI Family and celebrating the spirit of adventure and individuality that MINI embodies,” Myles emphasises.

Whether you are a long-time MINI owner or simply curious about the brand, MINI United is a festival you do not want to miss! Open from 11h00 until late on Saturday, 7 September 2024, secure your tickets on TicketPro and get ready to show Big Love for the new MINI Family.

For the latest updates and frequently asked questions, be sure to follow MINI South Africa and MINI United South Africa on Instagram.

The New MINI John Cooper Works: Power and Precision
The MINI John Cooper Works models have long been celebrated for their unmatched driving dynamics and racing pedigree. The New MINI JCW Family lineup continues this legacy, offering enthusiasts a choice between the thrill of petrol power and the cutting-edge performance of all-electric technology. Each version has been meticulously engineered to deliver the unmistakable JCW experience, characterised by sharp handling, impressive acceleration, and an unwavering connection to the road.

The petrol-powered MINI John Cooper Works is designed to ignite passion in every turn, with an engine that delivers relentless power and a chassis tuned for precision. The all-electric JCW variant will offer a new dimension of performance, combining instant torque with the refined agility that defines the JCW brand. Both versions promise to deliver a driving experience that is as engaging as it is exhilarating, whether on the open road or the racetrack.

Victory at the 2024 24 Hours of Nürburgring
The New MINI John Cooper Works lineup has already proven its mettle on the world stage, with the MINI John Cooper Works PROtotype clinching a category victory at the legendary 24 Hours of Nürburgring. This prestigious endurance race is known for testing the limits of both man and machine, and the JCW PROtotype's triumph is a testament to the vehicle's exceptional performance and durability.

The Nürburgring victory solidifies MINI's position at the forefront of high-performance motoring. The JCW PROtotype demonstrated its ability to dominate under the most demanding conditions. This achievement not only celebrates MINI's racing heritage but also sets a new standard for the capabilities of the JCW models, both now and in the future.

Goodwood Festival of Speed: A Thrilling Debut
Shortly after the impressive success at the Nürburgring, the New MINI John Cooper Works E PROtotype made its grand debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, one of the most prestigious automotive events in the world. The JCW E PROtotype captured the attention of enthusiasts and industry experts alike with its dynamic demonstration on the famous hill-climb course.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed provided the perfect platform for MINI to showcase the JCW E PROtotype, demonstrating the brand's continued commitment to performance and innovation. The car's thrilling run at Goodwood was a highlight of the event, underscoring the potential of the all-electric JCW models to deliver the same exhilarating experience that fans have come to expect from the brand.

Bulldog Racing: The Power Behind the Performance
Central to the success of the MINI John Cooper Works PROtotype this year and last year’s podium finish with one of only few manual transmissions racecars at the 2023 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, is the expertise of Bulldog Racing. Based in Nürburg, this esteemed racing team has been the driving force behind the development of these high-performance John Cooper Works race cars. With a deep-rooted passion for motorsport, Bulldog Racing has expanded its focus beyond internal combustion engines, developinig the electric MINI JCW PROtotype.

Both cars are on display during the DTM race on the Nürburgring from August 16^th – 18^th.

Bulldog Racing's involvement has been instrumental in ensuring that the new JCW models meet the rigorous demands of both the racetrack and the road. Their teamwork has led to the first podiums for MINI John Cooper Works at the 2023 and 2024 toughest endurance race of the world, the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. The team's dedication to excellence is evident in every aspect of the MINI John Cooper Works racecars, from their engineering precision to their race-winning performance and reliability.

Looking Forward to Fall 2024
As the official unveiling of the New MINI John Cooper Works models approaches, excitement continues to build. The new lineup promises to deliver the ultimate driving experience, with options to suit every enthusiast, whether they prefer a petrol engine or an electric drivetrain.

The achievements of the MINI John Cooper Works PROtotypes at the Nürburgring and Goodwood are just a glimpse of what’s to come.

MINI is set to make a thrilling appearance at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed, showcasing two John Cooper Works models that are sure to excite enthusiasts.  

Making its debut is the completely new and never-before-seen MINI John Cooper Works E PROtotype, the first ever electric John Cooper Works model. 

This groundbreaking electric vehicle will be driven by none other than Charlie Cooper, adding to the excitement of the legendary hillclimb.

In addition, MINI will present the petrol-powered next-generation MINI John Cooper Works PROtotype #317. The car that triumphed in its class at this year's 24 Hours of Nürburgring race and was prepared by Bulldog Racing from Nürburg.

In celebration of the Mini Cooper S's historic victory at the 1964 Rallye Monte Carlo 60 years ago, both racecars boast a unique camouflage designed by the MINI Design Team, featuring the iconic “37” logo. This emblem honours MINI’s rich motorsport heritage and commemorates this significant milestone.

Both models will have their official premieres this spring, offering a glimpse into the future of performance for the iconic brand.

Munich. The MINI John Cooper Works E PROtotype marks a significant milestone as the first-ever electric MINI John Cooper Works model. Featuring a striking design and advanced electric powertrain, this prototype embodies MINI's commitment to innovation and electromobility.

Celebrating its world premiere later this year, the MINI John Cooper Works E represents a bold move in MINI's evolution, combining the brand's rich heritage with cutting-edge technology. The future John Cooper Works lineup will include both petrol and all-electric models.

In a nod to MINI’s historic victory of the Mini Cooper S at the 1964 Rallye Monte Carlo 60 years ago, the racecar features a distinctive camouflage designed by the MINI Design Team, and the “37” logo, commemorating this milestone achievement. This emblem serves as a homage to MINI’s rich motorsport tradition.

The dynamic premiere at the Goodwood Festival of Speed offers a glimpse of the future of high-performance electric vehicles, showcasing MINI's iconic design and engineering prowess. Fans and automotive enthusiasts alike can expect an unforgettable showcase of the MINI John Cooper Works E PROtotype’s capabilities as it tackles the challenging hill climb.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is being held over four days from 11-14 July 2024.

With a length of 4,036 mm, a width of 1,744 mm and a height of 1,464 mm, the body dimensions are almost identical to those of its predecessor and underline the basic idea behind every MINI: To create as much space as possible on a small footprint. 
In the case of the MINI Cooper 5 Door, this means an interior that offers enough space for five passengers. Compared with the new MINI Cooper 3 Door, the wheelbase is 72 mm longer and the body 172 mm longer, all of which benefits the occupants in terms of comfort and space. Short overhangs, clear surfaces and expressive accents also give the new MINI Cooper 5 Door its unmistakable charisma. Inside, digital innovations and an immersive user experience take the MINI DNA to a new level. 

The larger body version of the purist MINI Cooper also delivers the brand's hallmark driving fun and agile handling. There is a choice of two efficient petrol engines which, combined with the modern chassis and precise steering, deliver the hallmark MINI go-kart feeling.

The three-cylinder petrol engine of the MINI Cooper 5 Door C generates 115 kW. The MINI Cooper 5 Door S is powered by a four-cylinder petrol engine with 150 kW. Hallmark MINI steering and powerful brakes ensure a high level of driving fun, safety, and comfort. Compact dimensions, short overhangs, and a small turning circle of 11.4 metres make the MINI Cooper 5 Door a versatile model for the city.

The new MINI Cooper 5 Door combines charismatic MINI design with an extra portion of functionality. In the rear, the noticeably wider interior provides comfortable space for three passengers. The 60:40 folding rear seats increase the luggage compartment capacity from 275 litres to up to 925 litres.

The new MINI design style.
The new MINI Cooper is characterised by "Charismatic Simplicity"– the design language of the new MINI family that presents the traditional values of the brand with a striking clarity. The authentic design language of the new models combines advanced technology with elementary principles of vehicle design and brand origins.

The exterior.
Short overhangs, a small bonnet, a long wheelbase, and large wheels - the proportions of the MINI Cooper 5 Door reflect its urban character.

Thanks to its compact silhouette, the model is easy and comfortable to manoeuvre even in tight spaces, and with plenty of room for all passengers.  The new MINI Cooper 5 Door is an original MINI with a high recognition value. The visual tripartite division into a clearly designed body, a wraparound window area and a stepped roof makes it instantly recognisable.

The minimalist design of the front end with its focussed expression contributes to this. The new generation also features the iconic MINI round headlights. Together with the octagonal front grille, they form the distinctive MINI face. Standard LED headlights with individually adjustable daytime running light elements enhance the striking appearance. The optional light signatures are available in three versions to emphasise the character of the vehicle. The MINI Cooper interacts with the driver using a specially orchestrated welcome and goodbye animation, even before the journey begins.

Reduced body design for a striking look.
The new MINI aesthetic continues at the rear with clear surfaces and flush-fitting taillights. The vertically aligned LED clusters are reminiscent of the classic MINI lights and, like the headlights, can be switched to different settings.

The flush-mounted design of the rear lights lends a modern and purist look to the car’s rear sculpture. It is subdivided by a striking black handle strip with distinctive model lettering. Its horizontal alignment emphasises the new MINI Cooper's broad stance.

Three trims with individual equipment options.
The new MINI Cooper 5 Door is available in eleven expressive body colours. For the roof, there is a choice of three contrasting colours, the car colour and the characteristic multi-tone roof with a gradual colour gradient. The different colour tones highlight different features of the car and showcase the new MINI design language in a variety of ways.

The car can be personalised with three different exterior trims. The Classic Trim, which comes as standard, emphasises the minimalist overall appearance and highlights certain functional parts such as the logo in Vibrant Silver. The roof is available in black or white, as is the Multitone roof with its unique colour gradient. The contrast with the body colour gives the MINI Cooper a particularly expressive look. 

In the Favoured Trim version, the front radiator grille frame and certain design elements are finished in Vibrant Silver, further enhancing the individuality of the MINI Cooper.

The JCW Trim emphasises the sporty side of the MINI Cooper 5 Door. Exclusive design features such as the striking front and rear diffusers, radiator grille surround and high-gloss black JCW logo allude to MINI's motorsport heritage. 

The tyre diameter is larger than on the outgoing model, emphasising the wide stance of the new MINI Cooper 5 Door. Aerodynamic wheel designs up to 18-inch offer further exterior options.

The interior.
The interior of the new MINI Cooper 5 Door also features the brand's typical combination of new elements, technical innovations, and references to the brand's history.

Minimalist and immersive.
The design of the front end of the new MINI Cooper 5 Door is reduced to the essentials and is reminiscent of the purist design of the classic Mini. Legendary inventor Alec Issigonis designed an interior for the first model with a round instrument in the centre and the characteristic toggle switch strip below. These two elements also structure the cockpit in the MINI Cooper 5 Door.
The minimalist design of the interior makes do with fewer components, which are cleverly designed and manufactured to a high standard. Behind the steering wheel, the optional, slim, combined head-up display ensures that all relevant content appears in the driver's field of vision. As a result, the dashboard on the driver’s side does not require an additional instrument panel, so it opens the view to the front.

Innovative materials characterise the feel-good atmosphere in the interior of the MINI Cooper. A specially developed knitting process is used to create the versatile, easy-care structure of the textile in two-colour design made of recycled polyester. The textile surfaces extend across the curved dashboard and into the door panels. The air vents feature an especially flat design. The horizontal arrangement of the air vents ensures an even flow of air in the cockpit. The direction of the vents can be easily adjusted.

The generous space in the front seats and the clean lines give the cockpit a modern and airy look. Thanks to the panoramic glass roof, the interior is particularly bright. The seats are available in a standard version and in a JCW version. Their side panels are upholstered in high-quality fabric right down to the adjustment buttons. Three passengers can sit comfortably in the rear.

High-resolution OLED display revolutionises user experience.
Like the round instrument of the outgoing model, the new central icon with its versatile functions is the visual focal point of the interior. The central OLED display in the redesigned cockpit has been moved closer to the driver, making it easier to reach. Its high resolution sets a new standard. Thanks to the MINI Operating System 9, all vehicle functions can be controlled intuitively by touch or voice. The slim touch display has a high-quality glass edge, and has grown to 240 mm in diameter. Its operating logic is reminiscent of the standards familiar from smartphones.

The graphical presentation of content focuses on the essentials. Vehicle-related information is displayed at the top. The lower part of the OLED display provides direct access to the navigation, media, phone and climate control menus. The home button returns the display to its default settings.

The MINI Experience Modes.
The seven MINI Experience Modes can be selected according to mood and personal preference and characterise the atmosphere in the interior.

Using the MINI Projector on the rear of the OLED display, they transform the dashboard into matching worlds of colour and pattern. The interplay of projection, ambient lighting and the MINI Interaction Unit creates a unique, immersive experience that extends into the door trim. This opens new possibilities for individualisation. In Personal Mode, for example, a personalised image can be selected as the display background via the MINI App. The dominant colours of the picture are then applied to the dashboard's textile surfaces using a digital colour picker. The ambient lighting under the dashboard and in the door mirror is also colour-coded to match these projections.

Each mode has its own customised backgrounds. In Go-kart mode, for example, the display and interior are dominated by the John Cooper Works signature charcoal grey and red.

The new design of the rocker switch strip.
Just like the iconic centre console, the rocker switch strip with its toggle switches is as legendary as the MINI itself - and yet it has been carefully updated time and again. In the latest version, the parking brake, gear selector, start/stop button, Experience Mode, and volume control are all at your fingertips. Practical benefit: The removal of the gear selector has freed up more space in the centre console, which now features a large open storage compartment in addition to the cup holders. Smartphones can be charged in the wireless charging area at the front of the console and are always ready to hand.

Three newly designed interior trims.
The new colour and material concept for the MINI Cooper 5 Door is deliberately minimalist. High-quality, environmentally friendly materials are used, such as the knitted recycled polyester surfaces on the dashboard and door trim.

Starting with the Classic Trim, a new accent colour – Vibrant Silver –  is used to highlight certain interior and exterior functional elements. The standard two-spoke steering wheel is replaced by a three-spoke version with a textile band at the six o'clock position. A 2D knitted fabric in grey and black on the dashboard and doors contrasts with the imitation leather seats.

A two-tone houndstooth pattern on the knitted dashboard is particularly expressive. The perforated Vescin sports seats are available in two colours with traditional accent stitching. 

JCW Trim is a sporty interpretation of the new material concept. Combined with multi-coloured knitted fabric and black imitation leather with red stitching, the colour scheme echoes that of the dashboard and door trims.

Digital services.
"Hey MINI" - the new MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant.
In the new MINI Cooper, numerous functions can be controlled using the brand’s first fully-fledged voice assistant. The MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant can be activated with the greeting “Hey MINI” or by using the push-to-talk steering wheel button. Voice-controlled interaction takes place on the circular OLED display in the form of an animation of graphic elements, typography, and an avatar. Users can choose between the visualisation of "MINI" – a stylised representation of a MINI – and the virtual travel partner, "Spike". The driver can easily control navigation, telephone, entertainment, and numerous vehicle functions by voice.

The MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant continuously learns from repeated routes. Drawing on geo-based data, for example, the vehicle can learn to automatically open the window when entering a car park. This makes everyday life much more convenient.

The new MINI Operating System 9.
The MINI user interface combines functional and emotional elements. The design is reduced, creating a very modern look based on new graphics. Static and dynamic elements blend naturally into the circular shape of the MINI Interaction Unit, following a clear structure. Micro animations reinforce the intuitive interaction between the driver and the central instrument, thereby underlining the digital character of the new MINI family.

The MINI Operating System 9 is an in-house development of the BMW Group. Operation is intuitive and follows standards that are familiar from the consumer electronics sector.

The home menu is located in the centre of the screen. The status bar with the menu items Navigation, Media, Telephone, All Apps and (depending on the situation) Home is located at the bottom of the screen. Favourite functions such as navigation destinations or radio stations can be stored in the tool belt for quick access. The upper part of the screen is reserved for driving-related content, such as speed and important vehicle status information. The optional head-up display presents the most important information in the driver’s line of sight.

In conjunction with the MINI Connected Package, the full MINI Navigation Package supports the driver during the journey with realistic 3D visualisation of turn situations, a display of the current traffic situation even when the route guidance system is not activated, information on parking facilities, and much more.

New driver assistance systems make day-to-day life easier.
The new Parking Assistant Plus makes the parking process even easier. Thanks to 12 ultrasonic sensors and four surround-view cameras, the vehicle can identify possible parking spaces more clearly and can even independently initiate space-restricted parking manoeuvres.

With MINI Digital Key Plus, the smartphone becomes the key and opens the car automatically. The welcome projection of the front and rear lights begins as soon as the driver is less than three metres away; the doors are unlocked when the driver is at less than one and a half metres away from the car. The digital key is transferable to different users, thereby facilitating car sharing in that it is no longer necessary to hand over a conventional vehicle key to the other person.

The drive.
The new MINI Cooper 5 Door with petrol engine.
The new MINI Cooper 5 Door is available with a choice of two efficient petrol engines. Within the new model family, MINI refers to the performance levels with the designations C and S. The entry-level model is the MINI Cooper C with a 115 kW three-cylinder engine (consumption combined: 6.0 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 137 g/km according to WLTP) with 230 Nm of torque. This enables the vehicle to accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h in 8.0 seconds and reach a top speed of 225 km/h.

The MINI Cooper S has a 150 kW four-cylinder engine (consumption combined: 6.3 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 145 g/km according to WLTP with a maximum torque of 300 Nm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds and has a top speed of 242 km/h.

Comfortable and sporty mobility.
The track width and wheelbase are generous for this vehicle segment and provide the basis for the hallmark MINI dynamic performance. The MINI Cooper 5 Door features a suspension and damping system tuned for spirited handling. This ensures a high level of everyday driving comfort, combined with the precise steering feel and the powerful brakes typical of MINI. 
Highly preloaded anti-roll bar mounts on the axles ensure balanced body handling during dynamic cornering. They also ensure steering precision and accuracy. The result is excellent body support combined with smooth rolling comfort. 

Selective tuning of the steering and a bouquet of stability control systems ensures an exceptional experience in all driving situations. An adaptive suspension with frequency-selective damping system is available for particularly sporty driving. The increased tyre diameter of 625 mm gives the MINI Cooper 5 Door a greater visual presence. At the same time, driving dynamics and ride comfort are improved. In addition, the tyre width of the 17- and 18-inch rims is increased to 215 mm to emphasise the typical MINI go-kart feeling. 

The new MINI Countryman is now available in South Africa. 

Prices include VAT and CO2 tax: 

MINI Countryman C.
From R724,819.70

MINI Countryman S ALL4.
From R795,074.00

MINI JCW Countryman.
From R965,767.80

MINI Countryman SE ALL4.
From R1,086,000.00

Nürburg. MINI John Cooper Works proudly announces a spectacular performance at the 2024 Nürburgring 24 Hours race, showcasing the brand's enduring spirit and engineering excellence. The highly anticipated MINI John Cooper Works Pro #317 and the steadfast MINI John Cooper Works #474 both delivered remarkable results, cementing MINI's place in motorsport.

The #317 MINI John Cooper Works Pro, a new generation model set to premiere in fall 2024, emerged victorious in the SP-3T class, securing first place with a stunning lap time of 10:06, achieved by Markus Fischer (AUT). This remarkable performance underscores the capabilities and future potential of the next-generation MINI John Cooper Works models.

The #474 MINI John Cooper Works, featuring a six-speed manual transmission, continued its legacy of excellence by securing a commendable third place in the VT-2 class. Building on its previous year's success of a second-place finish, the car, driven by Marco Zabel, recorded a fastest lap time of 10:44.118, showcasing the consistency and competitiveness of the MINI brand in endurance racing.

Stefanie Wurst, Head of MINI, commented on this outstanding achievement: "What an achievement for MINI and Bulldog Racing to win their class at the hardest race in the world. On the year MINI celebrates the 60th anniversary of the famous first Monte Carlo victory, we continue to keep the MINI racing spirit alive. The legacy that John Cooper created continues to drive us forward.”

Both cars “Made in Nürburg” were equipped with high-performance Pirelli tyres, further enhancing their competitive edge on the challenging Nürburgring circuit. The overall standings saw the MINI John Cooper Works Pro #317 achieving the impressive overall position 71, while the MINI John Cooper Works #474 secured an overall position of 78 out of 127 cars, showcasing the brand's resilience and prowess in one of the most demanding endurance races globally.

The petrol version of the MINI Cooper, namely the MINI Cooper C and MINI Cooper S were launched from May 2024 with first cars being delivered to customers worldwide. The all-new MINI John Cooper Works will premiere in October 2024. The John Cooper Works product line-up will comprise both all-electric and petrol-powered vehicles. 

Nürburg. As one of the most demanding endurance races in the world, the 52nd edition of the 24 Hours Nürburgring will test the limits of both man and machine on the iconic Nürburgring. The longest racetrack in the world - a 25.378 km long combination of the Nordschleife and Grand Prix circuit - will be contested by 130 vehicles in 23 different classes, and over 450 drivers from three dozen nations.

With a legacy rooted in motorsport, John Cooper Works brings a formidable lineup of race cars to this year's competition. From the adrenaline-fuelled MINI John Cooper Works PRO #317 to the precision-engineered MINI John Cooper Works #474, each car is built in Oxford, UK, and then meticulously crafted in Nürburg at Bulldog Racing to deliver unrivaled performance and reliability on the track.

The MINI John Cooper Works PRO, sporting #317, is based on the new MINI John Cooper Works, which debuts at the Nürburgring ahead of its world premiere later in fall 2024 and is camouflaged in a red and white-themed motorsport wrap designed by the MINI Design Team.

The drivers for MINI John Cooper Works PRO (#317), which competes at the SP-3T class:
Charlie Cooper (GBR)

Markus Fischer (AUT)

Christoph Kragenings (GER)

Sebastian Sauerbrei (GER)

The MINI John Cooper Works, with #474, is the only car equipped with a six-speed manual transmission starting at this year’s edition of the race. It stands as a testament to John Cooper Works' commitment to precision engineering and driving excellence.

Drivers for MINI John Cooper Works 1to6 edition (#474), which competes at the VT-2 class:
Michael Bräutigam (GER)

Andreas Hilgers (GER)

Sascha Korte (GER) 

Marco Zabel (GER) 

As the excitement builds for the 24 Hours Nürburgring, John Cooper Works and Bulldog Racing remain focussed on achieving success on the track while pushing the boundaries of performance and reliability. The organisers expect over 200,000 visitors over the weekend.

Nürburg - MINI enthusiasts and motorsport fans are eagerly awaiting the debut of the highly anticipated New MINI John Cooper Works. It is set to make its first appearance at this year's 24 Hours of Nürburgring, one of the toughest endurance races in the world, challenging drivers and teams to conquer the iconic Nürburgring-Nordschleife over a grueling, day-long battle of speed, skill, and reliability.

The new petrol-powered MINI John Cooper Works, cloaked in a bespoke camouflage designed by the MINI Design Team, pays homage to the iconic red and white color schemes used for classic Minis in motorsports in the 1960s.

Celebrating its world premiere in Spring 2024, the New MINI John Cooper Works marks a significant milestone in MINI's commitment to innovation and heritage. In a bold move, the new MINI John Cooper Works lineup, developed to push the boundaries of speed and agility, will be available in both petrol and all-electric versions.

In a nod to Mini’s historic victory of the Mini Cooper S at the 1964 Rallye Monte Carlo 60 years ago, the racecar features a distinctive “37” logo, commemorating this milestone achievement. This emblem serves as a homage to MINI’s rich motorsport tradition.

The New MINI John Cooper Works #317 will be entered by the private racing team from Nürburg, Bulldog Racing, and will be competing in the SP 3T category.

Dubbed “MINI John Cooper Works PRO”, the MINI Twin-Power Turbo racecar represents the perfect fusion of MINI's iconic design and reliability and Bulldog Racing's track-tested expertise.

The second entry will be the beloved black MINI John Cooper Works #474 manual transmission, which showcased its prowess by securing a podium finish at last year's 24 Hours of Nürburgring, proving its mettle against fierce competition in the VT-2 category, cementing its status as a formidable contender in endurance racing.

As anticipation builds for its debut, MINI fans and automotive enthusiasts alike can expect an unforgettable showcase of the New MINI John Cooper Works capabilities at this year’s 24 Hours of Nürburgring from June 1^st to June 2^nd 2024.

Mr. Heilmer, when you joined MINI in 2017, how did you set about developing a vision to lead the models into the future?

Given that MINI is a very traditional brand, the question was: how do you evolve a brand like this into the future? To answer that, we went right back to the birth of the classic Mini to understand the spirit of Sir Alec Issigonis and derive from this where the MINI brand is heading in today’s context. The next step was to explore the essence of the original Mini together with our very diverse team and derive our own creative mindset. This was our foundation to develop an overall brand design vision to serve as a guiding principle in designing the new products.

What was your biggest challenge in developing a completely new design language?

The biggest challenge was and still is the profound engagement with the brand's strong history. The first MINI was an absolute disruption – but that is also part of the story. We could just say that MINI is disruption and let everything that happened before stay in the history books. But that would be to discard the heart of the brand. Instead, we now talk about independent characters – and the MINI Cooper immediately shone as the icon in our eyes. You get closer to the quintessential ethos of the original model: a powerful character, but with as few fancy frills as possible – “Charismatic Simplicity” expresses this.

What does the new MINI “Charismatic Simplicity” design language represent and how is this reflected in the new MINI Aceman?

It’s about strong characters and about each family member having their own individual place within the MINI family. For example, the MINI Aceman has a unique design language when viewed from the side, and a unique graphic for the wheel arch trims. It is compact, agile and exudes a determination to forge ahead. That is what highlights this charismatic aspect. At the same time, we have consciously kept away from superfluous stylistic elements. Our challenge was to define a distinctive character with as few design elements as possible.

How would you describe the MINI Aceman character?

The MINI Aceman is both a practical and expressive, unique companion in everyday life. It steps out into the world fresh and carefree and takes up its place at the centre of the MINI family. It is an independent character that can be quite ‘edgy’ and appeals to customers who – irrespective of their age – value individuality and distinctiveness in urban spaces.

The MINI Aceman is the first of its kind. What makes the MINI Aceman the signature vehicle for the urban environment?

The MINI Aceman fits perfectly into the urban environment as it reinterprets the classic MINI values in a modern, all-electric crossover format. It offers an elevated seating position that conveys a feeling of safety and a generous amount of space without losing the compactness and manoeuvrability that are the MINI hallmarks.

Where do you draw fresh inspiration to develop new MINI models?

Inspiration never happens by chance but comes from a regular and targeted exchange of views within our team, in which each member contributes their inspiring and fascinating experiences. One team member builds skateboards, for example, while another lived on a sailing boat for two years. I would say it is roughly split between direct and indirect inspiration. Indirect inspiration involves everything that fuels a spirit, which comes across in the materials we use as well as in the surfaces and the digital aspects. Direct inspiration is in the architecture or fashion, for example. However, creative debate within the team throughout is crucial.

How do new, sustainably produced materials influence the design process at MINI?

Our brand design vision is based on our “creative mindset”, which consists of four guiding values: heartbeat, curiosity, responsibility and daredevil. These values stand for our basic principles such as heritage, curiosity for the new, sustainability and the courage to stand out from the crowd. For us, sustainability and the responsible use of resources have nothing to do with compromise, but rather exploring new possibilities in our creative process. Instead of materials such as leather, we use alternative technologies that allow more design freedom and individualisation, for example through using patterns or two-tone colours. The 3D knit is an example of one of the central design elements inspired by the sneaker industry. We are also replacing elements: for example, chrome with our new Vibrant Silver colour for aesthetic reasons.

Which of the MINI Aceman design innovations are you particularly proud of?

Two things in particular, and they are both about size. The MINI Aceman is very compact because of its very short overhangs at the front and rear. Even so, the vehicle is extremely safe. This is the result of truly outstanding engineering work. But it’s not just the things you can see that make it special. I would also make particular mention of how the sense of space is brought throughout the interior to achieve maximum lightness.

Are there any hidden design element that you would only see on closer inspection?

The idea behind us hiding little Easter eggs was knowing that people love discovering surprises. Not always in plain sight, but a little further down the line. Digital innovation allows for this sort of playfulness: for example, the navigation arrow can be depicted as a small MINI, or a large spinning record can be displayed on the central interface. And that’s how Spike was born, an animal friend who has always been a loyal companion to the brand. This gave rise to the idea of offering a kind of digital companion. That’s how Spike got on board the MINI and now lives in the display, so to speak.

What direction do you want the MINI design to take in the future?

As a team, we believe that our “creative mindset” will remain just as relevant to us as a guiding principle for future products. At the same time, we will focus even more strongly on the value of responsibility. Curiosity and responsibility – these are the values that we are introducing into the minds of the next generation.

If there was a product outside the car segment that you could design – what would it be?

Many things come to mind, but if I had to choose one, I would say: a sailing boat. I’ve only been sailing maybe five times in my life, but I still have a fascination for open water and dealing with the natural forces that prevail there. I designed a trimaran together with a fellow student for my degree dissertation, with the question of whether it is possible to design “automotive” in an area of mobility that is not necessarily confined to the road – I believe that there is still enormous potential there.

Munich. Creative use of space – reinterpreted: MINI celebrates the premiere of the first crossover model for the premium small car segment. The new MINI Aceman combines compact exterior dimensions with as much room as possible for occupants and an all-electric drive. The result is a contemporary interpretation of classic Mini inventor Sir Alec Issigonis’ underlying vision: maximum utilisation of space with a minimum footprint combined with a modern drive concept. The progressive design of the new MINI Aceman provides space for five comfortable seats within a vehicle length of just over four metres. MINI draws on innovative technologies to enhance the interior with an immersive digital user experience, while the MINI Aceman’s all-electric drive gives a fresh boost to the characteristic MINI go-kart feeling. Combined with modern assistance systems and hallmark design, traditional brand values pave the way for an all-electric MINI future.

“The MINI Aceman brings a new level of excitement to our all-electric lineup, packed with a truly enjoyable immersive digital experience,” says Stefanie Wurst, Head of MINI. “The MINI Aceman is perfect for navigating crowded city streets, while maintaining the versatility and functionality of a Crossover and the Go Kart feeling you can expect from a MINI. I am certain that the sleek design, the performance, and the versatility as a 5-seater Crossover, will make the MINI Aceman a resounding success.”

From the outside, the MINI Aceman embodies sporty agility and a self-assured presence. The vehicle architecture of the new crossover model is based on a fully electric drive concept.

Measuring just under four metres in length, the new MINI Aceman has five seats and a versatile luggage compartment with a load volume of 300 litres, while numerous adjustment options enable this capacity to be extended individually to as much as 1,005 litres. With a predicted range of up to 406 kilometres in the WLTP test cycle, the MINI Aceman is perfectly equipped for locally emission-free mobility beyond the city limits, too.

New design style “Charismatic Simplicity”.
The entire new MINI family features a clear, reduced design, giving the various models a contemporary look that exudes effortless assurance. The minimalist design style of the MINI Aceman also powerfully conveys its progressive character.

“The MINI Aceman is a strong character with his own young personality within the new MINI family. It has an independent design language, is compact and looks agile. With its distinctive expression, it is the perfect everyday companion for those who value individuality in urban areas.” emphasizes Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design

The exterior.
Expressive crossover with compact proportions.
With its striking front-end, robust contours and athletic stance, the sporty MINI crossover model epitomises agility and self-assured presence. Measuring 4.07 metres in length, 1.75 metres in width and 1.50 metres in height, the MINI Aceman is positioned between the MINI Cooper and the MINI Countryman.

Featuring a streamlined front, short overhangs and the functional two-box design, the brand’s hallmark “Clever Use of Space” design principle has been given a new, distinctive character, while the all-electric drive opens up a whole range of fresh possibilities in terms of vehicle design. Creative space utilisation ensures the new MINI Aceman is agile and nimble in urban traffic while at the same time providing ample room for occupants.

Continuous surfaces give centre stage to the expressive and elegant colours of the body. The versatile and adventurous character of the MINI Aceman is emphasised by the standard roof rails, visually accentuated wheels in sizes from 17” to 19”, and underride protection at the front, rear and sides of the vehicle.

Modern front-end design with striking LED headlights.
The front-end design of the MINI Aceman conveys a powerful presence, reinterpreting typical MINI design elements such as the expressive headlights and the characteristic front grille. Its remodelled, octagonal shape builds on the traditional underlying theme of the hexagon. The grille surround in the MINI Aceman extends into the solid underride protection on the front apron. In the new Vibrant Silver finish or in high-gloss Jet Black, the front grille sets highly contrasting accents, helping to make the crossover model instantly identifiable.

With their individual design, the car’s angular LED headlights also lend emphasis to the distinctive standing of the MINI Aceman within the MINI model family. Their shape is perpetuated in the clarity of the bonnet design with its precise lines, giving the front of the vehicle its distinctive character. The daytime running light elements of the LED headlights can be switched to three different modes, underpinning the expressive character of this new MINI family member.

Distinctive body design with eye-catching details.
The surface design of the MINI Aceman contributes to the clarity and freshness of the new model’s aesthetic style. Tautly stretched body surfaces are accentuated by precise lines and robust angles. While making a progressive statement, this eye-catching styling of the MINI Aceman also forges a link to the brand’s history, enabling it to be instantly identified as a MINI.

The classic tripartite division of body, surrounding window graphics and roof has been reinterpreted. In keeping with idea of reducing everything to the essentials, a flush transition between the vehicle body and glass surfaces optimises the car’s aerodynamic properties. Flat integrated door openers emphasise the progressive expression of the MINI Aceman, while diagonal contours in the body below the A-pillars echo the weld crease of the classic Mini models in the front area of the side panels. Harmonious surfaces and horizontal lines between the wheel arches create an intriguing waistline, giving the vehicle body its unmistakable dynamic flair. The strikingly shaped wheel arches with their long rearward sweep and relatively steep downturn are an entirely unique feature of the MINI Aceman within the MINI Family. Sills in matt black round off the design of the side view towards the road, and their shape is carried on into the door area, giving the vehicle body a slim, upright and athletic appearance.

The rear of the vehicle reflects clarity of design, featuring large horizontal surfaces that emphasise the vehicle’s broad and stable stance. The aerodynamically bevelled and retracted rear window ensures a pronounced, powerful shoulder section, an effect that is further emphasised by the elongated roof spoiler. The hallmark MINI upright rear lights frame the centre section of the rear of the vehicle. With three distinctive graphics, the Matrix rear lights bear out the character of the MINI Aceman in differing ways. A wide, dark surround at the lower edge of the rear apron and the underride protection element integrated in the centre make for sporty proportions, thereby conveying the crossover model’s versatile characteristics.

Expressive body finishes and three individual trims .
The subtle three-dimensional quality of the body surfaces is stylishly highlighted by means of expressive colours. Shadows cast by the accentuated bodywork can be perceived to varying degrees, depending on the incidence of light and perspective. In combination with four contrasting finishes for the roof in hallmark MINI style, this conveys the expressive character of the MINI Aceman with particular clarity.

The MINI Aceman is available in three different trims in South Africa. An oblong-shaped badge in the design of the respective equipment variant is attached to the front area of the side sill, highlighting certain functional parts such as the logo in the new Vibrant Silver finish. In Classic Trim, the contrasting roof and exterior mirrors can be selected in black or white. The front grille is finished in high-gloss black, while the inner surface of the grille and the bumper are finished in body colour.

The Favoured Trim extends the individual expressive capabilities of the MINI Aceman to include the option of the characteristic Multitone Roof, combined with white mirror caps and a grille frame in Vibrant Silver. The maximum sporty flair of the new crossover model is particularly evident in the JCW Trim. This equipment variant inspired by motorsports has its very own distinctive front and rear design. The front grille is featuring a frame and the variant-specific JCW logo in high-gloss black, while a contrasting roof in Chili Red and red bonnet stripes underline the powerful overall appearance. Meanwhile the rear sculpture is much more muscular in shape and the all-round panelling is finished in high-gloss black.

Various aerodynamic wheel rim designs in sizes between 17 inches and 19 inches further complement the exterior equipment options available for the MINI Aceman.

The interior.
Purist design and wide-ranging material concept.
The new MINI design style “Charismatic Simplicity” is expressed particularly clearly in the interior. With its consistent reduction in terms of interior design, the MINI Aceman follows the original vision of Alec Issigonis, the inventor of the classic Mini. With its easy-to-handle steering wheel, a central OLED display and the remodelled hallmark toggle bar, the cockpit echoes three key design elements of the classic Mini. By means of this contemporary styling in the entirely new crossover model, MINI transports the history of the brand into the here and now.

Spacious door interiors along with comfortable dimensions in the shoulder area and convenient legroom give the bright cockpit an open and amply proportioned atmosphere, while the panoramic glass roof enhances this effect by providing additional light from above. In the dark, the ambient lighting along the roof frame creates the selected lighting mood in the interior. The free-standing door handles and the speaker covers in the new Vibrant Silver finish are aligned diagonally and create a fascinating contrast with the horizontal design in the front area of the cockpit.

The gentle, rounded design style of the interior is further reflected in the curved surfaces of the dashboard: the latter’s surface is covered with a knitted material in which the lower colour shines through the upper one. This gives the interior a homely character with starkly accentuated colour contrasts. Extending to the interior door trim, the easy-care, versatile structure is made of recycled polyester. Rounding off the high-quality fittings in the cockpit are comfortable seats, optionally featuring a textile surface or made of perforated Vescin.

The amply sized rear of the vehicle offers space for three passengers. Thanks to the 60:40 folding rear seat backrest, the luggage compartment can be extended from 300 litres to up to 1,005 litres as required.

High-resolution OLED display for contemporary ride comfort.
With innovative technologies, the circular OLED display lends the interior additional expressive quality. With a diameter of 240 mm, the central instrument features an extremely flat design and a high-quality glass surface. The innovative MINI Operating System 9 enables all driving functions to be operated intuitively by touch or voice. A centre for both comfort and experience, the MINI Interaction Unit is handled in a similar way to a smartphone.

The graphic presentation of the vehicle-related data is contemporary and minimalistic in style, with the speed and battery status shown prominently at the top of the display, directly in the driver’s field of vision. Tapping the speed display opens a large full-screen speedometer that clearly focuses on the driving experience. The other widgets are shown in thumbnail view in the Home menu, to the left and right of the current menu function. These can be moved to the centre and selected by means of a horizontal swiping movement. In the lower area of the OLED display, the menu items Navigation, Media, Telephone and Climate can be selected directly at any time.

MINI Experience Modes enhance the driving experience.
The emotional MINI Experience Modes enhance the interior with immersive user experiences. In the MINI Aceman, two projector units beam special illuminated graphics onto the dashboard with differing patterns and colours. Changes are made to the colour scheme of the light patterns and to the ambient lighting in the entire interior depending on the Experience Mode selected. The newly created MINI Driving Sounds enhance the experience of all-electric mobility. Together with specific graphic elements on the OLED display, vehicle occupants enjoy an entirely new driving experience in the interior of the MINI Aceman.

Among the eight modes available for selection, Personal Mode offers innovative options for customising the cockpit. In this mode, a personally selected image can be uploaded from a smartphone via the MINI app and chosen as the display background. A digital colour picker then identifies the dominant colours of the photo for projection onto the textile dashboard surfaces. The ambient lighting under the dashboard and in the door mirror is also colour-coded to match these projections.

The other modes available for selection are Go-Kart Mode, Vivid Mode, Core Mode, Green Mode, Timeless Mode, Balance Mode and Trail Mode, each of which focusses the display on a “Mode App” to match the ambience. In Go-Kart Mode there is a highly dynamic focus on MINI’s racing DNA, for example. The display and the interior as a whole then feature the colours anthracite and red, while specific analogue displays for driving dynamics complement this MINI Experience Mode inspired by John Cooper Works.

Typical MINI: historic toggle bar in a new design.
In the classic Mini, the feel of the toggle bar at the centre of the cockpit enhanced the emotional connection between driver and vehicle. MINI also draws on this characteristic equipment detail to transport brand history into the latest of its models. The most important driving functions (parking brake, gear selector, start/stop key, experience mode toggle, volume control) are directly accessible in the MINI Aceman via five individually designed toggles. This means that no additional gear selector is required, making room for practical and spacious storage options in the centre console. In addition to the cup holders, there is an additional tray for wirelessly charging smartphones.

Three individual equipment options. 
All the models of the new MINI family feature three trims with individual customisation options, each conveying the contemporary feel-good concept in the interior of the MINI Aceman in a different way.

From the Classic trim upwards, the two-spoke basic steering wheel is replaced by a three-spoke steering wheel with a textile band in differing colours. In addition, the equipment variant with a black and blue knitted surface on the dashboard and doors provides a diversified contrast to the seats in high-quality fabric or Vescin.

In the Favoured Trim, the interior features a strikingly expressive design. The dashboard comes in the elegant Dark Petrol, complemented by an accentuated colour gradient in orange on the passenger side. The dynamic appearance is further reflected in the sports seats made of perforated Vescin. These are available with traditional accent stitching and an embroidered MINI logo in two colours. The JCW Trim presents the versatile material concept of the MINI Aceman in maximum sporty style. The JCW seat with sports seat geometry and additional lateral support noticeably enhances comfort. Combined with multi-coloured knitted textile and black synthetic leather with red stitching, the colour concept echoes the design of the dashboard and door trim.

Digital services.
Simplified communication with the first MINI voice assistant.
The brand’s first fully-fledged voice assistant can be activated in the MINI Aceman by saying “Hey MINI!”. Alternatively, the push-to-talk steering wheel button is also available for this purpose. Voice-controlled interaction is visualised on the circular OLED display by means of an animation of graphic elements, typography and an avatar. Communication with the virtual travel partner – either a stylised MINI or the character “Spike” – is particularly fluent and intuitive thanks to improved speech recognition. Navigation, telephony, entertainment and numerous vehicle functions can be controlled simply and conveniently by speaking the relevant command.

The MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant learns continuously through dialogue and is able to take on day-to-day tasks on repeated routes. Based on geo-based data, for example, the vehicle can identify the entrance to a multi-storey car park and automatically open the window. This means that individual routines can be handled more conveniently.

Advanced assistance systems increase safety.
Driving Assistant Plus provides the MINI Aceman with an additional steering and lane assistant for lateral guidance. Convenient and cooperative steering helps the driver stay on track. The increased comfort offered by the system combines relaxed and superior control of the vehicle while relieving the driver of the monotonous and less demanding aspects of driving. The clear-cut appearance of the displays, operating elements and easy-to-understand functional features result in a high degree of system security. The new Trailer Assistant helps when manoeuvring into a parking space with a trailer as standard, also offering advice on the required steering wheel angle when reversing.

Thanks to twelve ultrasonic sensors and four Surround View cameras, the MINI Aceman is able to identify vacant parking spaces with greater precision, automatically initiating parking manoeuvres where space is limited, while the new Remote Parking function of the optional Parking Assistant Pro enables the vehicle to be parked using a smartphone. This function allows the MINI Aceman to be driven out of a parking space automatically, making it easier to get into the vehicle if space to the side is too limited.

The innovative MINI Digital Key Plus option likewise utilises the user’s smartphone to ensure a convenient and personalised vehicle experience, transforming the smartphone into a vehicle key. The front and rear lights start the welcome projection as soon as the driver is less than three metres away, and the doors unlock automatically. Replacing the conventional vehicle key, the digital key can be transferred to several users.

Convenient connectivity and intuitive interaction.
The modern aesthetics of the digital user interface in the MINI Aceman combine functional and emotional elements. Its minimalist design adapts the new graphics to the circular shape of the MINI Interaction Unit, simplifying operation by means of a clear structure. Static and dynamic elements combined with micro-animations ensure that the interaction between the driver and the central instrument is harmonious and intuitive. This emphatically digital character of the MINI Aceman is enabled by the MINI Operating System 9.

At the centre of the screen is the start menu, while at the bottom of the screen the fixed status bar can be seen with the menu items “Navigation”, “Media”, “Telephony”, “All Apps” and, in certain situations, “Home” – all of which can be selected directly. As customers are used to from numerous consumer electronics devices, a so-called toolbelt can be made to appear by swiping upwards from the bottom edge of the screen. Preferred functions such as navigation destinations and radio stations can be saved for quick retrieval at any time. The toolbelt can also be activated via the star button on the multifunction steering wheel. The upper screen area is reserved for driving-related content such as speed and important vehicle status information. The optional head-up display presents the most important information in the driver’s line of sight.

The temperature is shown permanently for the driver and front passenger at the left and right-hand edge of the screen. The climate settings are always integrated at the top level of the MINI Interaction Unit and are operated by either touch or voice. Depending on the Experience Mode, a single tap on the speed display transforms the entire MINI Interaction Unit into a typical MINI speedometer.

MINI Connected upgrades allow additional driving functions to be activated flexibly at any time, including an optional augmented reality function that can visualise complicated turning situations realistically and in three-dimensional display, for example. In conjunction with the optionally available MINI Connected Package, the digital MINI Connected Store provides access to a constantly evolving variety of practical and entertaining apps, including in the area of gaming and music.

The drive.
All-electric and efficient.
The MINI Aceman is available solely with an all-electric drive, enabling locally emission-free mobility. The efficient electric motor ensures hallmark MINI driving fun both in urban areas and on excursions beyond the city limits. At market launch, the new MINI Aceman will be available in the MINI Aceman E (electricity consumption combined: 14,7 – 14,1 kWh/100 km according to WLTP; CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km; CO2-class: A; Range in km according to WLTP: 298 - 310) version and also as the MINI Aceman SE (electricity consumption combined: 14,8 – 13,9 kWh/100 km according to WLTP; CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km; CO2-class: A; Range in km according to WLTP: 382 – 406) with increased output. 

The 135 kW/184 hp electric motor of the MINI Aceman E generates a torque of 290 Nm, accelerating the car from standstill to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and reaching a top speed of 160 km/h. With an output of 160 kW/218 hp, the MINI Aceman SE generates a torque of 330 Nm, enabling the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 170 km/h.

With an energy content of 42.5 kWh, the battery of the MINI Aceman E achieves a range of 310 kilometres in the WLTP test cycle. The high-voltage battery of the MINI Aceman SE has an energy content of 54.2 kWh, giving it a range of 406 kilometres according to the WLTP.

Sporty agility and outstanding driving dynamics.
Its chassis gives the new MINI Aceman a sporty character, and this is also reflected in the driving fun that is typical of the brand. The tyres with a diameter of 654 mm give the vehicle a more powerful visual presence, enhancing driving dynamics and ride comfort in equal measure. The Aceman is equipped with a precise damping system that features highly prestressed stabilisers: these improve steering precision and accuracy while at the same time ensuring sound roll support. The precise adjustment of the steering and all driving stability control systems to either comfortable or sporty driving guarantees an exceptional driving experience in every situation. The response of the electric drive to pressure on the accelerator pedal is optimised for a sporty driving style.

Meanwhile, agile and dynamic handling is emphasised by the direct steering, with a rack ratio of 59.5 mm rack travel per turn of the steering wheel. Combined with a short and firm feel when braking, the integrated braking system increases ride comfort by means of reliable stabilisation. In conjunction with the numerous driver assistance systems, short braking distances increase safety.

The MINI Experience Modes with various suspension set-ups are available for a customised driving experience, while driving fun can be intensified by adjusting the steering response and also specially calibrated intervention limits for the traction control.

Quick and easy: charging the battery.
The battery of the MINI Aceman can be charged via alternating current with 11 kW. Fast charging with direct current is possible in the MINI Aceman E with 75 kW and in the Aceman SE with up to 95 kW. At a fast charging station, this allows the battery to be charged from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in just under 30 minutes. When MINI Navigation is activated, the high-voltage battery can be set to the ideal temperature for efficient charging in advance, depending on weather conditions. This significantly reduces charging time, especially in cold outdoor temperatures.

For a transparent and simple charging process, the customer can optimise vehicle battery charging by means of easy-to-understand setting options. The start time for charging can be selected or a specific time window for charging can be set, for example. A precise target level for battery capacity can be determined in advance, too. For a particularly pleasant start, charging can be set to be completed by a selected departure time, and the vehicle interior can be air-conditioned to the desired temperature by this time. The MINI App provides a convenient overview of the charging process, even if the customer is not near the vehicle. This provides details of the current battery status, a charging-optimised route plan, and charging history to date – including all costs and savings.

Monday 11 March – Today sees the start of production for the new, fifth generation MINI Cooper at the home of MINI, Plant Oxford.

 Associates at MINI Plant Oxford were joined by Head of MINI, Stefanie Wurst for a special on-site event in which the first three-door model was driven off the production line by Charlie Cooper, grandson of the legendary John Cooper, whose heritage inspired the Cooper moniker.

Commenting on the start of production, Stefanie Wurst, Head of MINI said, “This milestone underscores our commitment to our roots while propelling us into a dynamic future of driving. Plant Oxford is the heart of the MINI brand, and today, as we witness the birth of this new chapter, we renew our pledge to craftsmanship and the thrill of motoring."

Dr. Markus Grüneisl, Head of Plants Oxford and Swindon said, “We are delighted to welcome the new MINI Cooper to our lines in both Oxford and Swindon. The new MINI Cooper is an incredibly important car for our team and UK manufacturing. We are proud to produce this iconic car, loved all over the world.”

The new MINI Cooper is the latest generation to be built in the UK, with all three BMW Group UK manufacturing sites contributing to production: BMW Group Plant Swindon produces body pressings and sub-assemblies, while the latest highly-efficient three and four-cylinder petrol engines are built at BMW Group Plant Hams Hall in North Warwickshire. Finally, these parts come together at MINI Plant Oxford where body shell production, paint and final assembly take place.

Since the launch of the first modern MINI in 2001, over 4.4 million MINIs have been produced in Britain - including 150,000 MINI Electric models built between 2019 and 2023.

With its high level of flexibility, competitiveness and expertise, the MINI Oxford plant plays an important role in the BMW Group's production network, and is currently preparing to build two new all-electric MINI models from 2026. The BMW Group will then have invested a total of more than 3 billion GBP in the Swindon, Hams Hall and Oxford plants.

Announced last month, the new MINI Cooper arrives as the third member of the new MINI family, joining the MINI Cooper Electric and the new MINI Countryman. Available in two model variants: the MINI Cooper C and performance-enhanced MINI Cooper S, the latest three-door merges traditional brand values with innovative, future orientated technology.

The model’s exterior silhouette features clear surfaces, short overhangs, and a short bonnet which, combined with a contrasting long wheelbase, achieves the typical MINI proportions. Moving inside, the interior is minimalistic, with the entire cockpit focussed on just three elements: a revolutionary circular OLED display, the new Vescin steering wheel and the toggle bar. 

The New MINI Family will be introduced in South Africa from the second quarter of 2024.

Munich. Within the new model family, MINI designates the performance levels of its petrol engines for the MINI Cooper using the letter C and for the performance-enhanced model using the letter S. The attractive powertrain portfolio of the new three-door MINI is thus complemented by two efficient petrol engines with a choice of three or four cylinders. The brand's iconic go-kart feeling is brought to the road in the new generation MINI. The MINI Cooper's minimalist design is a combination of traditional brand values and impressive clarity.

“At MINI, 'Power of Choice' means that in addition to all-electric MINI models, we also offer models such as the new MINI Cooper with petrol engine. The car is ideal for all those people who want to drive a classic MINI 3-door and appreciate the traditional performance and characteristic sound of a combustion engine,” says Stefanie Wurst, Head of MINI.

The interior focuses on typical MINI, minimalist design and new materials. Technical innovations such as the MINI Operating System 9, the new MINI Experience Modes and a wide range of digital functions create an immersive user experience.

Two powerful drive variants.
With an output of 150 kW, the four-cylinder engine of the MINI Cooper S (combined fuel consumption: 6.7 - 6.1 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 150 - 138 g/km according to WLTP) accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds with maximum torque of 300 Nm. The 115 kW three-cylinder engine of the MINI Cooper C (combined fuel consumption: 6.5 - 5.9 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 146 - 133 g/km according to WLTP) delivers torque of 230 Nm and accelerates the vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds.

The MINI Cooper is equipped with a suspension and damping system designed for agile handling. The precise typical MINI steering combined with powerful brakes ensures a high level of driving pleasure, safety and comfort.

The exterior: cult status included.
With a puristic design and compact silhouette, the MINI Cooper is the embodiment of the brand's basic idea: maximum driving pleasure with a minimal ecological footprint. The contemporary minimalism of the new design characterises the clear surfaces of the body. Short overhangs and a short bonnet contrast with the long wheelbase, giving the car typical MINI proportions.

At the front, the new octagonal grille with its filigree contours defines the MINI Cooper's characteristic face even more. The BMW Group's smallest radar sensor to date is positioned on the horizontal strut between the air intakes. A total of 12 ultrasonic sensors in the MINI Cooper support the driver assistance systems and increase driving safety.

Horizontal LED daytime running lights underline the new appearance in the standard setting. The striking appearance is further enhanced by three selectable light signatures for the daytime running lights of the MINI LED headlights and the redesigned matrix rear lights.

All three selectable light signatures begin and end with a specially orchestrated welcome or goodbye animation.

The interior: classic, innovative, MINI.
The MINI Cooper's elegant, minimalist interior design is inspired by the classic Mini. The new steering wheel, the round OLED Display, the typical MINI toggle bar and the two-tone textile dashboard create a sense of spaciousness in the cockpit. Clean lines are the hallmark of the modern interior with its generous amount of space. The panoramic glass roof adds to the bright and friendly atmosphere. By folding down the rear seat in a 60:40 ratio, the luggage compartment can be flexibly expanded from 210 litres to provide a volume of up to 800 litres.

The most important driving functions (parking brake, gear selector, start/stop key, experience mode toggle, volume control) are directly accessible via the distinctive toggle bar. The gear selector in the center console makes way for the new Wireless Charging Shelf 2.0. Smartphones can be stored here and charged wirelessly.

The MINI Interaction Unit has been moved closer to the driver in the MINI Cooper cockpit. The diameter of the high-resolution, thin OLED display with high-quality glass edge is 240 mm. Its operating logic is similar to that of a smartphone and can be operated intuitively by touch.

Relevant vehicle-related information, such as speed and fuel consumption, is displayed at the top of the screen. In the main menu, the functions are arranged horizontally as widgets and can be selected by swipe and touch. In the lower area of the OLED display, the menu items Navigation, Media, Telephone and Climate can be selected directly at any time.

Digital innovations for an immersive user experience.
As part of the optional MINI Experience Modes, two projector units beam various illuminated graphics onto the dashboard. The interplay of visual design, ambient lighting and sound design changes the appearance of the cockpit and opens up new possibilities for personalising the MINI Cooper.

Each mode has its own dynamic background and can be selected according to the driver's personal preferences. In personal mode, an personal photo can be set as the display background via the MINI app. The dominant colours of the photo then extend across the textile surfaces of the dashboard and the door panels as illuminated graphics.

Drive safely, arrive relaxed.
The new MINI Cooper offers numerous driver assistance systems for safe and comfortable driving pleasure. As standard, the Safe Exit function monitors the area around the parked vehicle and warns approaching road users before the door is opened. The function not only delays the unlocking of the doors, but also uses light signals outside the vehicle to warn of a possible collision.

On the road, the MINI Navigation package optionally provides support with 3D visualisation and Augmented View, displays the current traffic situation, provides information about parking options, and much more. Camera and radar-based assistance functions increase safety by supporting steering and lane keeping as part of the comprehensive Driving Assistant Plus package. Automatic speed and distance control makes city driving even more comfortable.

Just say "Hey MINI" to activate the MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA) on the OLED display. A 3D visualisation then appears in the form of a "car" avatar or the digital MINI companion "Spike". Interacting with the MINI IPA, the driver can use his voice to control a wide range of options such as navigation, telephony, entertainment and other vehicle functions.

The innovative MINI Digital Key Plus function turns the smartphone into the car key via the MINI app. The welcome animation of the front and rear lights begins as soon as the driver is less than three metres away; the doors are unlocked when the driver is at a distance of less than one and a half metres. This convenient vehicle experience can be digitally transferred to different users, including their personal vehicle settings.

Four trims for an individual look.
The new Essential, Classic, Favoured and JCW trim variants offer a wide range of customisation options. Depending on the trim, the new MINI Cooper C and MINI Cooper S are available with different body paint finishes and interior trims.

The colours can be combined with one of four roof colours and create a variety of contrasts. An exclusive option in conjunction with the Favoured Trim package is the Spray-Tech design of the distinctive Multitone Roof. This features a three-colour gradient. New, aerodynamically optimised designs are available for the 16-inch to 18-inch aluminium rims.

Munich. On its way to series production, the new model currently must prove itself under extremely high temperatures on sandy desert roads.With an length of 4,075 mm, a width of 1,754 mm and a height of 1,495 mm, the MINI Aceman occupies the position between the MINI Cooper and the MINI Countryman. The third stand-alone model in the new all-electric MINI family is equipped with four doors and a large tailgate. Its interior can accommodate five passengers.

“The all-electric MINI Aceman opens new opportunities for customers who want a smaller crossover than our successful MINI Countryman. The consistent electrification of our product portfolio makes a clear statement about the future of the MINI brand,” says Stefanie Wurst, head of MINI.

Tested under extreme conditions.

After the MINI Aceman has already successfully completed tests at the Arctic Circle, the crossover model is completing final testing in the desert in strong sunlight and heat. In addition to classic features such as driving dynamics and driving comfort, the test team is focusing on the demanding aspects of an electric vehicle. For this purpose, the air conditioning, charging and cooling of the battery, drive and control devices are intensively tested at up to 50° Celsius in dusty desert sand.                                                                           

Fully electric and efficient.

The new MINI Aceman will only be available fully electric. Its battery size is 54.2 kWh. Thanks to the purely electric drive concept, the agile MINI crossover takes up little space on the road and offers a high level of comfort and versatility. The design of the newly developed model is in line with the brand's basic principle: plenty of interior space with the smallest possible external dimensions, agile driving characteristics and efficiency. Behind this is the functional two-box design with short overhangs. This creates maximum space for five passengers and luggage on a minimal floor space.

Munich/Reykjavik. Two-digit sub-zero temperatures, deep snow-covered routes and uneven scree tracks promise real challenges. In the midst of Iceland's breathtaking nature, the new MINI Countryman S ALL4 can prove its off-road qualities. In the John Cooper Works Trim with a bright chili red body color and a shiny black contrasting roof in jet black, the grown crossover model already exudes a visually superior presence.

“The MINI Countryman S ALL4 impresses with driving fun on any terrain. Our customers benefit from the variability of a crossover with a robust off-road character. The MINI Countryman is both agile and spirited as well as safe and comfortable on longer distances,” says Stefanie Wurst, head of MINI.

Excellent even in snow and ice
Outdoor fans will experience the wild side of the largest volcanic island in the world, especially off the big roads. In winter on Iceland, rough terrain, snow-covered scree tracks and icy climbs challenge the precise driving qualities of the MINI Countryman S ALL4. The ALL4 all-wheel drive system supports the driver in all road and weather conditions. The fast and precise electronic control system distributes the drive power between the front and rear wheels as needed.

In combination with the slightly increased track width and the increased wheelbase, the model offers excellent driving dynamics with increased comfort. The chassis can be adjusted differently depending on the surface and environment. A well-balanced and comfortably adjusted suspension is ideal for exploring the Icelandic crater landscape. On solid roads and in city traffic, however, the MINI Countryman S ALL4 is particularly agile with its direct steering and sporty-tuned chassis.

The powerful 2.0 liter twin power turbo engine impresses on Iceland's long, straight roads with smooth running, increased output to 160 kW and maximum torque of 360 Nm. In addition, a 48V mild hybrid engine supports the performance of the MINI Countryman S ALL4 (combined fuel consumption: 7.4 — 6.8 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 169 — 155 g/km in accordance with WLTP) in the low speed range through a temporary boost of 14 kW. *

Sporty design and clear aesthetics
The John Cooper Works Trim gives the MINI Countryman S ALL4 an individual motorsport look with distinctive diffusers at the front and rear. In JCW Trim, the bright Chili Red color and the characteristic contrasting roof and high-gloss jet black side mirrors give the body a powerful appearance. In keeping with this, the MINI LED headlights with the selected JCW signature only show two horizontal stripes as daytime running lights and accentuate the minimalist design language.

The John Cooper Works logo features clear outlines and the typical red-white-black color scheme on the octagonal front grille. In this new look, the logo also adorns the distinctive C-pillar, which connects flush with the stretched vehicle roof. Vertical rear lights underline the upright and sporty position of the MINI Countryman S ALL4. For the new model, light-alloy wheels are available in various designs and sizes ranging from 17 to 21 inches.

Sporty interior with a high level of travel comfort.
The MINI Countryman S ALL4 offers up to five passengers comfortable space in all seats. The backrest of the three rear seats is individually adjustable in six positions. The back seat, which can be moved up to 13 cm, provides either additional legroom or even more cargo space. The bright atmosphere in the interior is further reinforced by the panoramic glass roof. In the JCW Trim, equipment-specific seats made of high-quality synthetic leather with red contrasting stitching provide a secure grip and at the same time offer the right level of comfort. The black and red color scheme of the vehicle trim continues on the knitted surfaces of the interior door trim and dashboard.

Luggage can be easily stored in the 450-litre trunk. The rear seat backrest, which can be flexibly divided at a ratio of 40:20:40, allows the luggage compartment to be expanded to up to 1,450 litres as required. This means that even bulky objects can be easily transported when the back seat is completely folded.

On multi-lane roads, Driving Assistant Plus adds the option of partially automated Level 2 driving to the MINI Countryman for the first time. This allows the driver to take his hands off the steering wheel up to a speed of 60 km/h, provided that he continues to closely monitor the traffic and remains ready to intervene at any time.

*All specified technical data are preliminary.

Munich . Fully-electric vehicles now make up 15.3% of total MINI sales for the full year 2023. Sales of electrified vehicles (incl. plug-in hybrids) represent 20,8% of total MINI sales. In its last full year of availability, the current MINI generation experienced a surge in sales figures in 2023 totaling 295.474 vehicles, marking a 0,9% increase in comparison to the previous year. This growth demonstrates the unwavering appeal and resonance with consumers globally for the current MINI 3- and 5- Door, the MINI Convertible, the MINI Countryman and the MINI Clubman, which were spiced up with special and limited editions for their end of lifecycle. The MINI John Cooper Works 1to6, limited to 999 units marked the last MINI John Cooper Works with a manual transmission. It debuted at the 24 hours of the Nürburgring, winning a podium. The MINI Clubman Final Edition with 1969 high-spec vehicles marks the end of an era for the Clubman.

A pivotal aspect of MINI's success story in 2023 was the remarkable increase in the adoption of Battery Electric Vehicles. 45.261 customers opted to go fully-electric choosing a MINI Cooper SE 3-door or the recently launched, limited production run MINI Cooper SE Convertible – the first ever electric convertible. MINI witnessed a 3.5% rise in the sales of its fully electric models, reaffirming MINI's commitment to sustainable mobility solutions.

“2023 has been an exceptional year for MINI”, says Stefanie Wurst, Head of MINI. “The accelerated adoption of our fully-electric vehicles underscores our collective dedication to shaping a greener future. With the imminent arrival our all-new MINI Family, we're excited to continue setting new standards in driving experience while advancing our commitment to a more sustainable automotive landscape. The enthusiastic reactions following the world premiere of our new and fully electric MINI Family at IAA Mobility, the MINI Cooper and the MINI Countryman are very promising. "

The all-electric MINI Cooper SE and MINI Cooper E, the all-electric MINI Countryman SE ALL4 and the MINI Countryman E are completely new models and come equipped with cutting-edge technology, thrilling digital customer experience and significantly enhanced range.

The yet-to-be-unveiled new MINI Aceman, a fully-electric compact five-seater crossover, will be launched in two specifications as well.

MINI will launch internal combustion engine variants of its vehicles over the course of 2024 offering its customers the choice of different drivetrain technologies.

Munich. With the introduction of the new models, MINI is describing the performance levels of its petrol engines for the MINI Countryman with C and, as a more powerful model, with S. With the MINI Countryman C, the brand combines a high level of driving comfort and spacious room with an efficient 3-cylinder petrol engine.

“As an entry-level model, the MINI Countryman C combines typical MINI features such as agility and driving pleasure with generous standard equipment,” says Stefanie Wurst, head of the MINI brand.

Equipped with efficient TwinPower Turbo technology, the 3-cylinder has an output of 125 kW and 280Nm of torque. This allows the entry-level model to accelerate in 8.3 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and reach a top speed of 212 km/h. The vehicle has the necessary power and spontaneity for brand-typical driving pleasure. 

The exterior: puristic design with increased presence.

The new MINI Countryman is 13 centimeters longer and eight centimeters higher than its predecessor. The upright silhouette with clearly designed surfaces and the redesigned octagonal front grille contribute to the model's superior appearance. The reduced body design with delicate contours gives the model a sleek appearance. Typical of the brand, short overhangs underline the agile vehicle character. Distinctive LED headlights and rear lights accentuate the body design with optional new light signatures.

The stylish, concisely designed C-pillar adjoins the stretched vehicle roof flush and in the same colour. Piano Black roof rails are now standard equipment and maximise the transport options of the crossover model, for example with a roof rack or the MINI roof box.

On uneven roads, 202 mm ground clearance and the dynamic chassis provide additional safety and comfort. For the new MINI Countryman C, light-alloy wheels are available in various designs and sizes ranging from 17 to 21 inches.

The interior: spacious and versatile with typical MINI comfort.

The spacious interior of the new MINI Countryman can accommodate up to five adults. With a panoramic glass roof, the interior has additional brightness and all-round visibility. The standard sports seats with patterned multi-tone textile in the cockpit give passengers more space thanks to an additional width of three centimetres in the shoulder and elbow area. The backrest of the three rear seats can be individually adjusted in six positions by up to 12° degrees. The back seat, which can be moved up to 13 cm, creates additional legroom in the rear or even more cargo space. Thanks to the rear seat backrest, which can be folded down at a ratio of 40:20:40, the trunk volume of 450 litres to 1460 litres can be easily and flexibly adapted to personal needs.

At the centre of the minimalistic interior design is the round OLED display with a diameter of 240 mm. The new central instrument with a high-quality glass surface allows all infotainment and assistance systems to be operated conveniently and intuitively via touch or voice command. The MINI Experience Modes change the appearance of the cockpit with a combination of visual design, ambient lighting and sound design. All driving functions can be controlled via the characteristic MINI toggle bar.

For the first time, Driving Assistant Plus expands the MINI Countryman with the option of partially automated Level 2 driving on motorway-like routes. This allows the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel up to a speed of 60 km/h, provided that they continue to closely monitor the traffic and remain ready to intervene at any time.

Four trim options for individual expression.

The product structure of the new MINI Family offers a wide range of customisation options with the new Essential, Classic, Favoured and JCW trim variants. Depending on the trim, different paint and roof colours as well as various interior finishes are available. The design of the new C-pillar element changes with the selected vehicle trim.

The particularly expressive Favoured trim, with the contrasting roof and the Vibrant Silver front grille frame, sets stylish accents to the Smokey Green body colour. Twenty-inch rims in the aerodynamically optimised Windmill Spoke 2-tone design accentuate the self-confident appearance of the MINI Countryman C.

In the interior, a two-tone colour gradient adorns the textile surface from the dashboard to the door panels. The innovative design is made from recycled polyester using a specially developed knitting process and contributes to the comfortable atmosphere of the interior. In addition to the heated sports steering wheel, the Favoured trim has perforated Vescin sports seats. They are offered in three colours with traditional accent stitching.

Munich. With 160 kW and 330 Nm of maximum torque, the MINI Cooper SE is way out in front with zero emissions, especially with its ability to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds. The high-voltage battery installed in the MINI Cooper SE with an energy content of 54.2 kWh enables a range of up to 402 kilometres as determined in the WLTP test cycle. To give your MINI a particularly sporty look it can be ordered in John Cooper Works Trim. With many details the equipment variant emphasises the brand's motorsport genes – achieved through numerous racing successes, including three victories at the Monte Carlo Rally in the 1960s.

“The all-electric MINI Cooper SE in the new John Cooper Works Trim combines a passion for iconic design, legendary performance and sustainable mobility. It is the epitome of efficiency and driving pleasure”, says Stefanie Wurst, Head of the MINI brand.

Individual front and rear design with a motorsport look.

The new John Cooper Works logo, which is characterised by clear outlines, stands out particularly well with its traditional red, white and black colour scheme and the symbolised chequered flag on the octagonal front grille. The powerful appearance of the MINI Cooper SE in JCW Trim is achieved, among other things, by 18-inch wheels in Lap Spoke 2-tone design with ten spokes each and JCW brake callipers in eye-catching red. Bonnet stripes on the body emphasise the sporty character.

As standard the MINI Cooper SE in JCW Trim includes striking diffusers at the front and rear. The radiator grille surround and logo are finished in high-gloss black. Visual highlights include the contrasting roof and the mirror caps in Chilli Red.

The MINI LED headlights have individual light signatures. With the selected JCW signature, the front lights only show two horizontal stripes as daytime running lights and emphasise the minimalist design of the new MINI Cooper SE. The graphics of the matrix rear lights underline the width of the rear of the vehicle.

Racing-inspired interior.

The JCW seats combine synthetic leather with red stitching and multi-coloured knitted material in the shoulder section. The black and red colour concept is continued on the 2d-knit covering the interior of the door and the dashboard – the passenger side of which is adorned with the JCW-specific pattern in style of a chequered flag.

The central, high-resolution OLED display with a diameter of 240 mm bundles vehicle-related data and provides information on navigation, media, telephone and climate settings. With the MINI Experience Modes, it offers new possibilities for individualisation. These include the John Cooper Works-inspired GO-KART Mode, which colours the display and interior lighting anthracite red. In addition to the special GO-KART sound, the optimised throttle response of the accelerator pedal in this mode enhances the sporty driving experience.

New driver assistance systems and efficient charging.

With 12 ultrasonic sensors and four surround cameras, Parking Assistant Plus simplifies parking and identifies free parking spaces. The advanced EXPLORE Mode offers a unique solution for this vehicle segment: it allows parking via smartphone without the driver having to sit in the MINI.  A significant plus in convenience when parking space is tight at the side.

Fast charging with direct current is possible with up to 95 kW. This means that the battery can be charged from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in just under 30 minutes at a quick-charging station. The high-voltage battery is charged with 11 kW using alternating current. When navigation is activated, the high-voltage battery of the MINI Cooper SE is prepared to the ideal temperature for efficient charging depending on the weather conditions. The advantage: a significantly shorter charging time, especially at low outside temperatures.

Munich. The enthusiasm for typical MINI driving fun knows no limits. The versatile, powerful and spacious MINI Countryman S ALL4 guarantees brand-typical driving fun on any terrain. The new and largest MINI model combines the flexible options of a crossover with intelligent all-wheel drive. The new MINI Countryman offers noticeably more interior space. Thanks to the rear seat backrest, which can be separated at a ratio of 40:20:40, the luggage compartment offers variable storage options. It has a volume of 450 litres to 1,450 litres and can easily transport bulky objects when the back seat is folded down.

Innovative assistance functions, including partially automated Level 2 driving and extensive digital offerings, support drivers and passengers in new ways. Thanks to an optimised drag coefficient of 0.26, which is a new record in its vehicle segment, fuel consumption has been significantly reduced in the new MINI Countryman S ALL4.

"With its powerful 4-cylinder petrol engine and sporty design, the new MINI Countryman S ALL4 sets new standards in its segment," says Stefanie Wurst, Head of the MINI brand.

Even more freedom thanks to intelligent all-wheel drive. 

The ALL4 all-wheel drive system provides a noticeable increase in traction, safety, driving stability and agility. Thanks to its fast and precise electronic control, the power is distributed between the front and rear wheels as needed under all road and weather conditions.

The slightly increased track width and increased wheelbase form the basis for excellent driving dynamics and increase comfort. For even more driving fun on any surface, new wheel and tyre combinations are available for the MINI Countryman.

Direct steering and the combination of a single-joint McPherson strut front axle and multi-link rear axle guarantee the unmistakable and typical MINI go-kart feeling. To switch between city traffic and trips into nature, the chassis can be balanced and comfortable or particularly sporty. An adaptive chassis with 15 mm lowering and frequency-selective dampers is optionally available.

The MINI Countryman S ALL4 (combined fuel consumption: 7.4 — 6.8l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 169 — 155 g/km according to WLTP) offers an output of 160 kW and a torque of 360 Nm with its smooth two-litre four-cylinder turbo engine. 

A new feature of MINI is the option of semi-automated driving on multi-lane routes. This allows the driver to take his hands off the steering wheel at speeds up to 60 km/h, as long as he continues to closely monitor traffic and is ready to intervene at any time. When changing lanes, the assistant system helps by identifying the gaps in traffic that are necessary on the way to the exit. This then brings the vehicle to optimal speed and automatically initiates the lane change.

More MINI aesthetics with a reduced design language.

Regardless of the terrain — a MINI Countryman is and has always been recognisable as a MINI at first glance. The new design impresses with its particularly clear aesthetics. From the front, the vehicle looks tidy and is characterised by the tense shape of the bonnet and the new octagonal front grille. MINI LED headlamps accentuate the uniqueness of the reduced design through individual signature modes. The short overhangs and the slim outline are just as typical MINI as the stretched contrasting roof.

The wide and upright stance of the new MINI Countryman underlines its presence and solid off-road character. Vertical rear lights frame the vehicle silhouette and make the new MINI crossover model look particularly upright and sporty.

The vehicle design, reduced to the essentials, can be presented in various ways using four trims — Essential, Classic, Favoured, John Cooper Works — for the exterior and interior. For example, the Favoured Trim accentuates the individual character of the MINI Countryman S ALL4 with particularly expressive details. Combined with the elegant Melting Silver bodycolour and 21-inch 950 Rally Spoke rims (available as an accessory), the adventurer looks robust and high-quality. For the new MINI Countryman, alloy wheels are available in various designs and sizes ranging from 17 to 21 inches.

Breaking new ground with innovative materials.

In the interior of the new MINI Countryman S ALL4, clear shapes underline the new design language. The dashboard with two-tone textile creates a new and particularly homely feeling of space. The panoramic glass roof brings more light into the interior, and high-quality comfort seats provide a secure and comfortable grip.

High-quality materials, innovative technology and individually adjustable lighting create an immersive driving experience. One of the highlights of the new MINI Countryman are the MINI Experience Modes. Each mode has its own design and ambient lighting. With a single command, the look and atmosphere of the cockpit is completely changed. The various modes emphasise different aspects of the diverse adventurer. The new MINI Driving Sounds create a unique atmosphere that supports personal driving settings particularly emotionally with specially composed sounds.

In the cockpit of the MINI Countryman, the focus is on the high-resolution, round OLED display. With 240 mm diameter and a high-quality glass surface, the instrument cluster sets a new standard. For convenient operation of  the infotainment and assistance systems, the MINI Interaction Unit moved closer to the driver and passenger. With the new MINI Operating System 9, all vehicle functions can be operated intuitively via touch or voice assistants.

Leipzig. The start of MINI Countryman production marks a number of firsts and milestones for BMW Group Plant Leipzig: for the first time, a MINI model is being made in Germany – on the same production line as the BMW 1 Series and 2 Series. It’s all made possible by the plant’s flexible structures and development. Over the last five years the BMW Group has invested €700 million to ready Leipzig for increased vehicle volumes and adapt it for MINI-specific requirements. By the end of 2024 the workforce in production will increase by over 900. In addition, the new MINI Countryman is a catalyst for innovations in sustainable production.

“By launching production of the MINI Countryman here in Leipzig, we are introducing multibrand operations to our flexible production system,” explained Milan Nedeljković, Board Member for Production. “Plant Leipzig also offers a number of highlights in terms of resource conservation in production, providing further evidence of the successful rollout of our long-term masterplan: the BMW iFACTORY.”

Seamless integration through flexible structures 

When it comes to production of the new MINI Countryman, the BMW Group is building on the skills and extreme flexibility of Plant Leipzig to forge new pathways in manufacturing. Seamlessly integrated into the production process, the MINI Countryman now rolls off the same assembly line as the BMW 1 Series, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé and BMW 2 Series Active Tourer.

Thanks to its flexible assembly structures, Plant Leipzig is in a position to produce two brands with three different drives – combustion, plug-in-hybrid and fully electric – all on the same production line. The third-generation MINI Countryman will be available with a petrol, diesel or fully electric powertrain, with the high-voltage batteries for the MINI Countryman Electric also being made in Leipzig. It will reach dealerships on 17 February 2024.

Investments and recruitment to increase production volume

The BMW Group has invested some €500 million in Leipzig to increase production volume for new models. Since 2018 the bodyshop, paintshop, assembly and logistics have undergone extensive additions and upgrades, taking production capacity up from 250,000 units previously, to as much as 350,000 units a year at present.

To adapt the production system to MINI-specific requirements, the BMW Group invested around €200 million. Initially approx. 100 MINI Countryman cars a day will roll off the production lines, rising to 500 during the course of next year – in addition to the almost 1,000 BMW cars already coming out of the factory every day. This will not only secure existing jobs, but also create up to 900 new ones in vehicle production alone.

Electromobility and MINI production drive development

Another important milestone in the development and extension of Plant Leipzig is its transition to electromobility. “Leipzig remains electric,” says Petra Peterhänsel, Plant Director. “With the BMW i3 and i8, we were at the vanguard of e-mobility at the BMW Group, and from 2024, we will be producing our next fully electric car: the MINI Countryman Electric. We will manufacture the high-voltage batteries for it in-house as well.”

Starting next year BMW Group Plant Leipzig will run the entire production process for the current fifth generation of high-voltage batteries. This consists of three stages: cell coating, module production and battery assembly. The five cell coating lines, three module production lines and the first high-voltage battery assembly lines are all in the process of going into operation, with a second high-voltage battery assembly line scheduled for launch in 2024.

Capacity for e-component production has also been increasing since 2021, making Plant Leipzig an important supplier across the BMW production network. The parts are used in fully electric vehicles such as the BMW iX1, BMW i4, BMW i5 and BMW iX. E-component production in Leipzig currently employs over 800 people, and there are plans to develop it further, with investments totalling more than €800 million.

Sustainable materials and production 

The MINI Countryman Electric is a major step in the MINI brand’s transition to full electrification by 2030 and combines an electrified go-kart feel with a reduced environmental footprint. In developing the new model, the MINI brand’s responsible attitude was very much in the focus with regard to materials and production: chrome no longer features anywhere in the interior or exterior, and the light-metal alloy wheels are cast from up to 70 percent secondary aluminium. The permanently electrically excited synchronous motors are highly efficient and made entirely without rare earth minerals.

The interior is made purely from innovative, high-quality materials that are easy on the environment. The dashboard, door facias, floor covering and foot mats, for example, are made of recycled textiles. A high-quality alternative to conventional materials such as plastics, recycled textiles reduce CO₂ emissions along the value chain and require less water to manufacture.

Innovative painting method for contrast roof 

One of the striking design features of the MINI exterior is the contrast roof, which can be ordered in a different colour from the rest of the body. In the MINI Countryman it will be painted using a new, resource-friendly method known as overspray-free painting. Currently being readied for series operation, overspray-free painting does away with the excess paint – or overspray – generated by conventional painting methods and makes surfaces with more than one colour easier to produce, as they no longer require the laborious process of masking. Overspray-free painting also helps save CO₂ emissions, as exhaust air from the cabin requires less cleansing. Plus it requires considerably less conditioned air, i.e. air that is brought to a set temperature and humidity. As a result, less energy is needed to temper air and treat exhaust.

Another sustainable innovation operating at Plant Leipzig is the burner technology used to dry the paint on contrast roofs. Last year Leipzig became the first car plant in the world to pilot the new technology, which can run on not only natural gas but also hydrogen. The flexible burners can burn hydrogen (H2), natural gas (methane – CH4) or a mixture of the two and can even switch between them without having to halt operations. After successful tests, Plant Leipzig has now installed five hydrogen-capable bivalent burners for series operations, which are now being used for the contrast roof of the MINI Countryman. Plans are in place to convert further burners in the paintshop to bivalent operations.

Plant Leipzig – Built for sustainability

At Plant Leipzig, the focus has always been very much on efficient processes and a long-term strategy for energy generation and consumption, ever since planning began. “Sustainability is in the DNA of BMW Group Plant Leipzig. There’s one example that everyone can see: our four wind turbines, which generate electricity for the plant,” Petra Peterhänsel explained. They were erected in 2013 and deliver 10 MW (generating approx. 25 GWh/year). The second milestone came in 2017, when the battery storage farm went on stream. Equipped with up to 700 second-life high-voltage batteries from BMW i3 vehicles, it offers interim electricity storage for energy from the wind turbines and elsewhere, helping to optimise local energy management and stabilise the grid.

“Our vision at Plant Leipzig is to decarbonise production as far as possible by replacing fossil fuels with green hydrogen,” said Petra Peterhänsel, explaining the long-term focus of the facility. This will require sufficient green hydrogen from a grid. A regional hydrogen grid is currently in planning, with Plant Leipzig set to benefit.

Munich. The MINI John Cooper Works models have always been known for their exhilarating performance. With its 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman embodies this unmistakable driving experience. The new model generation of the spacious all-rounder has grown noticeably and offers even more space, comfort and safety. And thanks to its ALL4 all-wheel drive system, the Crossover is also very capable off the road.

“The MINI John Cooper Works Countryman embodies a unique combination of style, power and a sense of adventure. With its powerful 233 kW engine and sporty design, it is the perfect companion for anyone looking for something special,” says Stefanie Wurst, head of the MINI brand.

The new design is characterised by an upright and minimalist silhouette, through which the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman exudes a sense of adventure, versatility and reliability. The John Cooper Works logo has also been redesigned with a modern, clearcut look. For the first time, the logo is being used on the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman in the classic black, red, and white colour scheme.

With its sleek design, the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman has a drag coefficient of just 0.26, making it one of the most aerodynamic cars in its class. This helps the engine, which generates 233 kW, to accelerate the car from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds. The 400 Nm of torque and top speed of 250 km/h make for an exhilarating driving experience.

Exceptional performance makes dynamic driving a joy.
The standard all-wheel drive system distributes its power precisely and reliably in every driving situation. A high-performance braking system with brake calipers finished in Chili Red ensures powerful and precise deceleration. The characteristic sound of the exhaust flap system also makes the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman instantly recognisable as a high-performance model. Inside, the engine sound generated in real time enhances the emotional driving experience. An exclusive JCW sound extension boosts the sound of the engine start and intensifies the soundscape with racing-inspired engine sounds.

Optimised pistons, connecting rods and engine mounts extract maximum power from the two-litre turbo engine. An advanced, dual-drive exhaust turbocharger supercharges the engine. Together with the dethrottled air intake to the combustion chamber, this enables the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman to generate beefy performance and delivers an even more dynamic driving experience in every bend. The tyre diameter, which has been increased by 30 mm, is now 710 mm and the increased tyre width of 245 mm enhances the typical MINI go-kart feeling. Aerodynamically optimised 19 and 20-inch wheels, exclusive to JCW, round off the extensive range.

Advanced assistance systems provide added comfort.
The new MINI JCW Countryman features 12 ultrasonic sensors and four surround-view cameras in total. They support the innovative driver assistance systems and enable partially automated Level 2 driving in the comprehensive Driving Assistant Professional option package. The assistant can detect gaps in the traffic necessary for changing lanes heading towards an exit and brings the vehicle to the optimum speed for the assisted lane change. For the first time, drivers in the MINI Countryman can take their hands off the steering wheel on highway-like routes at speeds of up to 60 km/h, provided they continue to keep a close eye on traffic and remain ready to intervene at any time.

Great stature on any terrain.
The new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman has a bold and sporty look that reflects its performance and versatility. The exterior features a number of model-specific details that enhance its overall appearance. For example, the aerodynamic elements with vertical reflectors on the front of the car emphasise its wide stance, while the new MINI LED headlights with horizontal bars in JCW Signature Mode give the crossover a more expressive look. The front end is also characterised by the newly designed octagonal grille in high-gloss black and the newly designed three-colour JCW logo.

The newly designed C-pillar seamlessly joins the contrasting roof in motorsport-inspired Chili Red. The roof curves down towards the rear, giving the MINI JCW Countryman an agile silhouette despite its increased height and width.

The high-contrast exterior design, combined with the Legend Grey body colour, emphasises the sporty look of the model. At the rear, the upright John Cooper Works Signature Mode tail lights frame the upright vehicle body and underline the increased width.

Minimalist interior features racing DNA.
In the interior, the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman inspires with a reduced design. The cockpit is divided into an upper and lower section, with vertical door handles and air vents in the upper area. This emphasises the upright and larger overall impression of the spacious crossover. The red and black colour scheme at the dashboard, along the door panels and on the high-grade JCW sports seats, is a nod to MINI's racing heritage. The dashboard is made of a two-tone textile made from recycled polyester.

The rear of the vehicle is highly versatile and spacious. The rear row of seats can be adjusted in length by up to 13 centimetres. With the rear seat folded down, even bulky items can be easily transported in the 460 - 1,450 litre luggage compartment.

Increased functionality makes for an immersive driving experience.
You can use the toggle switches on the MINI toggle bar to control all driving functions. The central, high-resolution OLED display is home to all the other functions. Here, you can also select the new MINI Experience Modes and set up your preferred driving ambience using specially designed backgrounds and sounds. The go-kart mode provides a particularly sporty driving experience, and you can hear the engine sound with impressive intensity in the cabin. The MINI projector on the back of the OLED display can be used to bathe the dashboard in atmospheric colour schemes and patterns that correspond to the selected Experience Mode.

In addition, you can use the voice assistant to operate numerous functions, such as navigation, telephone, and entertainment. Voice-controlled interaction takes place on the circular OLED display in the form of an animation of graphic elements, typography, and an avatar.

Munich. The all-electric MINI Countryman SE ALL4 is a reliable companion for exploring new paths. As a spacious crossover model, the versatile adventurer enables locally emission-free mobility on a wide variety of terrain. This is guaranteed by the powerful ALL4 all-wheel drive, extended driving assistance functions, partially automated Level 2 driving and an electric range of up to 433 kilometers according to the WLTP test cycle. *

The modern, minimalistic design with clearly designed surfaces and wider wheel arches reinforces the look of the MINI Countryman SE ALL4. In addition, the all-rounder has grown significantly and now measures 4,433 mm in length, 1,843 mm in width and 1,656 mm in height. As a result, the currently largest MINI model offers new interior space. With a capacity of up to 1,450 litres, even bulky items can be easily transported when the bench is folded down.

“The new all-electric, all-wheel-drive MINI Countryman is the epitome of versatility and driving pleasure. It is the first MINI “Made in Germany” and makes a statement for environmentally friendly mobility. Thanks to its increased dimensions, it is a vehicle for the entire family,” says Stefanie Wurst, Head of MINI.

Fully electric all-wheel drive for locally emission-free adventures.
Two powerful electric motors with a total output of 230 kW and torque of 494 Nm guide the MINI Countryman SE ALL4 through any terrain. Together, they accelerate the vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 180 km/h. The powerful battery has an energy content of 66.45 kWh. *

With rapid DC charging at up to 130 kW, just under 30 minutes are enough to charge the battery from 10 percent to 80 percent. Customers can optimise the charging process at any time through easy-to-understand settings and view them via the MINI app.

For a particularly pleasant start, charging can be completed by a fixed departure time and the vehicle interior can be air-conditioned to the desired temperature by then. For the first time, the new MINI Countryman SE ALL4 can be charged with the Plug & Charge system. This recognises public charging stations without additional authorisation and automatically starts the charging process at suitable charging stations.

Innovative assistance systems support the driver on the go. With the Driving Assistant Professional, the MINI Countryman SE ALL4 enables partially automated Level 2 driving on motorway-like routes for the first time. This allows the driver to take their hands off the wheel at speeds of up to 60 km/h, as long as they continue to follow the traffic closely and remain ready to intervene at any time. In addition, the assistant can identify gaps in traffic necessary to change lanes to the exit. It then brings the vehicle to the optimum speed for assisted lane changes.

Maximum off-road character with typical MINI proportions.
The design of the MINI Countryman SE ALL4 underlines the character of the crossover model through the vertical orientation of the body details. The distinctive front grille, the distinctive headlights and the very sculptural bonnet underline the appearance. Short overhangs and slim contouring give the vehicle's silhouette an elegant definition.

The distinctive light-alloy wheels of the MINI Countryman SE ALL4, measuring up to 20-inch, are aerodynamically optimised, just like the entire body. As a result, the model achieves a drag coefficient of 0.26, is more economical in consumption and has an increased range. The stylish design of the C-pillar with the model-specific ALL4 logo supports the extended roof line in the rear of the vehicle and makes it appear shorter at the same time. The rear section is particularly uniform with clear surfaces and flush rear lights. Its vertical orientation underlines the wider stand of the MINI Countryman SE ALL4. The MINI LED headlights and taillights support the distinctive appearance with new radiance through unique light signatures.

Four trim variants set individual accents and accentuate different vehicle features with stylish exterior and interior features. The MINI Countryman SE ALL4 has been expanded to include the new Vibrant Silver shade for the first time in the range of characteristic MINI contrasting roofs.

Advanced technology and high-quality materials in the interior. The focal point of the cockpit in the MINI Countryman SE ALL4 is the round OLED display. The central instrument with a diameter of 240 mm and a high-quality glass surface simultaneously controls the infotainment and assistance systems. With the new MINI Operating System 9, all vehicle functions can be operated intuitively via touch or voice assistant.

The MINI Experience Modes are available for particularly immersive driving experiences. In addition to specific graphic elements on the OLED display, MINI fans can experience the entire interior in a new way through special lighting graphics in different colors and patterns. In addition, the new MINI Driving Sounds in the all-electric MINI Countryman SE ALL4 create a unique ambiance.

In the new MINI Countryman SE ALL4, the driver and front passenger gain significantly in comfort with just under three centimetres of additional shoulder and elbow width. The seats in the rear are also increased by 2.5 centimetres shoulder width. Thanks to clear shapes and the dashboard with two-tone textile design, the cockpit looks modern and clear. With the panoramic glass roof, the interior looks particularly bright and friendly. The four redesigned trims convey the modern interior concept in various forms.

The most important driving functions are directly accessible via the redesigned toggle bar. This eliminates the need for the gear selector and creates space in the center console for practical storage options. For example, smartphones can be stored on a spacious storage area and charged at the same time via wireless charging.

*All technical data provided are preliminary.

Nürburg. The 2023 endurance season at the Nürburgring has started. On Saturday, the newly built MINI John Cooper Works from Bulldog Racing completed its first race kilometers in the "Green Hell".

The team used the season opener of the Nürburgring Endurance Series as a test under racing conditions to gain important knowledge about the new vehicle.

With the starting number 468 Charlie Cooper (GBR), and Sebastian Sauerbrei (GER) started in the new MINI John Cooper Works in the class VT2-FWD.

Charlie Cooper (GBR), whose grandfather John Cooper invented the Mini Cooper in 1961, celebrated his race premiere on the Nordschleife and took the opportunity to adjust to the extremely demanding track. He passed his DMSB Permit Nordschleife just the day before in the new MINI John Cooper Works. His fastest lap during the race was a 10:35.194.

In a strong starting phase, the MINI John Cooper Works was able to make up many positions and Sebastian Sauerbrei drove his fastest lap in the race with a 10:10.763. In the further stages of the race, which were characterised by many accidents and Code-60 phases, the team focused on set-up work and finished the race in ninth place of 15 starters in its class.

After four hours, 21 completed laps, and a total of five pit stops required for set-up work, the MINI John Cooper Works from Bulldog Racing ultimately saw the chequered flag and finished in 88th place out of 118 drivers.

In two weeks, the driver duo of Charlie Cooper (GBR) and Sebastian Sauerbrei (GER) will compete again for Bulldog Racing at the second race of the Nürburgring Endurance Series on April 1, 2023.

Munich. Following the positive feedback on the unique specimen presented in summer 2022, MINI is now going ahead with a small series of the all-electric MINI Cooper SE Convertible, which represents another big step in the direction of electric mobility. The world's first locally emission-free premium convertible in the small car segment shortens the transition period to the introduction of the next-generation all-electric model family. From April 2023, the MINI Cooper SE Convertible will be available in Europe in a limited number of 999 vehicles. 

"Three years ago we launched the all-electric MINI Cooper SE, and today one in five MINIs sold in Europe is an all-electric MINI. This success has spurred us to implement the small series of the MINI Cooper SE Convertible within only a few months. I'm delighted that we can offer 999 MINI customers an extraordinary and exclusive open-air go-kart feeling," says Stefanie Wurst, Head of the MINI Brand.

The MINI Cooper SE Convertible is available in Enigmatic Black and White Silver. Door handles, side scuttles and the surrounds of the front and rear lights are finished in Resolute Bronze. The MINI logos and the model lettering feature in elegant Piano Black to match. The E logo familiar from the MINI Cooper SE is found on the front apron and on the rear, thereby visually underlining locally emission-free driving fun.

Further edition-specific equipment details also adorn the door sill trims and side scuttles and the "1 of 999" lettering emphasises the exclusive character of the limited edition open-air MINI.

MINI takes on a pioneering role with the edition-specific alloy wheels. The 17" cast alloy wheels in Electric Power Spoke 2-tone design are made of 100 percent secondary aluminium. The combination of green electricity during production and the use of the secondary raw material can significantly reduce CO2 emissions compared to conventional manufacturing processes.

Extensive interior equipment with MINI Electric Design features.
The sports seats are in MINI Yours Leather Lounge design and feature seat heating and adjustable thigh support. The multifunctional sports leather steering wheel in Nappa leather finish contributes to the fun-to-drive atmosphere and stylish driving comfort and can also be heated. In the lower steering wheel spoke, the MINI Electric Badge highlights the limited character of the all-electric convertible. The exclusive Piano Black surfaces, which can be stylishly set off by the ambient lighting, also contribute to the car’s exclusive status. The design of the interior emphasises the fully electric character of the open-top four-seater with yellow colour accents, such as the yellow start-stop toggle switch. 

In addition to numerous other features, the high-quality equipment is complemented in the cockpit by the eDrive services familiar from the MINI Cooper SE. These provides the driver with information on current energy consumption, range, and tips for an economical driving style. All essential information is summarised on the MINI Head-Up Display while driving. On longer journeys, the Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function and the MINI Driving Assistant, among other features, enhance the comfort of the limited MINI Convertible with all-electric drive as standard.

Pure electrified go-kart feeling.                             
With a length of 3,850 mm, a wheelbase of 2,495 mm, 1,727 mm width and 1,427 mm height, the dimensions, including the luggage compartment with 160 l load volume, remain unchanged compared to the conventionally powered MINI Convertible. The 135 kW electric motor comes from the BMW Group's electric mobility competence centres in Dingolfing and Landshut. Its small size enables particularly harmonious axle load distribution and favours agile and easily controllable handling. The electric drive accelerates the MINI Cooper SE Convertible smoothly from standstill to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds.

With a range of 201 kilometres determined in the WLTP test cycle, open-air excursions are possible well beyond the city limits. Up to 30 km/h, the fully electrically powered and thus particularly quiet textile soft top in MINI Yours style with typical Union Jack pattern can be opened, closed or set as a sliding roof.

From idea to small series.
With the MINI Cooper SE Convertible, MINI highlights its flexibility and has set up the production of a small series for the first time. The MINI Cooper SE Convertible will be produced in a limited edition of 999 vehicles alongside the conventional MINI Convertible in the Netherlands.

The MINI Cooper SE Convertible will not be sold in South Africa. 

Munich/Asheville. Sunshine, rising temperatures, fresh green scenery: Right on time for summer, MINI is presenting the all-electric MINI Cooper SE as a convertible for the first time. Not as a series production version, but as a unique specimen that shows how the path to an all-electric premium brand could continue and also electrify classic sporty open-air driving in the future. As an open four-seater, the MINI Cooper SE Convertible is the world's only premium convertible with a fully electric drivetrain in the small car segment. With this frontrunner, the British premium brand combines classic sportiness, maximum open-top driving fun and locally emission-free electric mobility for the first time.

The one-off model will be shown to the public for the first time at the traditional community event "MINI Takes the States" in the USA. The winding roads between Burlington in Vermont and Greenville-Spartanburg in South Carolina are perfect for giving the assembled MINI community a first impression of the typical MINI go-kart feeling in the outfit of a MINI Cooper SE Convertible.

The unique specimen is based on the body of the MINI Cooper S Convertible. The electrified MINI Convertible shares the dimensions of 3,863 mm in length with a wheelbase of 2,495 mm, a width of 1,727 mm and a height of 2,495 mm. The load volume in the luggage compartment also remains unchanged at 160 l.

The drive technology comes from the BMW Group's electric mobility competence centres in Dingolfing and Landshut. The MINI Cooper SE Convertible uses the same drive components as the three-door MINI Cooper SE. The exceptionally harmonious axle load distribution due to the small electric motor favours agile and easily controllable handling. With the top down now in the future, too.

The 135 kW electric motor, like in the MINI Cooper SE, transfers the agile handling with the hallmark go-kart feeling to the world of electric mobility and enables acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds. With a range of 230 kilometres determined in the WLTP test cycle, open-air excursions in urban environments as well as well beyond the city limits are possible. The MINI Cooper SE Convertible combines open-top driving fun with clever functionality. The fully electric and thus particularly quiet textile soft top can be opened and closed within 18 seconds. At the touch of a button, the soft top can be activated when driving up to 30 km/h and allows three settings: open, closed or as a sunroof.

With this one-off, MINI is appealing to the ever-growing fan community of the brand's hallmark open-air driving fun and, at the same time, electrifying the global vehicle market with another segment - sustainably, transparently and comprehensibly.  The successful transformation of the MINI brand to electric mobility is demonstrated particularly impressively by the example of the MINI Cooper SE model. With growth of plus 132%, the model was the pulse generator for the MINI brand in 2021. In Germany, the largest market for the MINI Cooper SE, almost every third MINI is already electrified. 

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2021, the BMW Group sold over 2.5 million passenger vehicles and more than 194,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2021 was € 16.1 billion on revenues amounting to € 111.2 billion. As of 31 December 2021, the BMW Group had a workforce of 118,909 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.

www.bmwgroup.com

www.mini.co.za

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Nürburg/Munich. The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring is considered to be the ultimate endurance test for man and machine. The 50th edition of the high-speed showdown will take place this year from 26 to 29 May on the 25.378 kilometre circuit consisting of the Grand Prix circuit and the legendary Nordschleife of the Nürburgring with a MINI John Cooper Works competing.

In September last year, the project was launched at Bulldog Racing in the Eifel region, just a few metres away from the Nordschleife. The base vehicle is a MINI John Cooper Works with the four-cylinder turbo engine known from the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman and MINI John Cooper Works Countryman with 225 kW and maximum torque of 450 Nm. The 8-speed Steptronic gearbox taken from large-series-production featuring an integrated, mechanical differential lock with a locking effect of up to 70% ensures that the drive torque is converted into thrilling performance without any losses.

Racing modifications

For racing purposes, the following modifications were made to the standard MINI John Cooper Works, which go beyond SP3T class regulations:

• A racing cage specially developed for this model was installed.
• The fuel tank volume was increased to 100 litres.
• Far-reaching interventions in the aerodynamics, including an adjustable rear wing, a completely covered underbody, a rear diffuser and front splitter were made.
• Weight was consistently reduced, e.g. by using Makrolon® window panes.
• A model-specific racing suspension with adjustable rebound and compression damping was fitted.
• All moving chassis and suspension parts were replaced with reinforced Uniball bearings
• A pneumatic lifting unit was installed.
• The sports exhaust system was adapted with a racing catalytic converter.
• Original BMW M Performance brake components were installed.

MINI in motorsport

Pat Moss made motorsport history in 1962, scoring the first international rally victory for MINI at the Tulip Rally. Her victory marked the beginning of the Classic Mini's unique success story in rally sport, with three overall Monte Carlo Rally wins in 1964 (Paddy Hopkirk), 1965 (Timo Mäkinen) and 1967 (Rauno Aaltonen).

This string of successes included six overall Dakar Rally victories in 2012 (Leonid Novitskiy), 2013 (Stéphane Peterhansel), 2014 (Nani Roma), 2015 (Nasser Al-Attiyah), 2020 (Carlos Sainz Sr.) and 2021 (Stéphane Peterhansel).

The MINI John Cooper Works racing car "Made in Nürburg" pays homage to the racing tradition of the MINI brand in the classic colour scheme of the 1960s racing cars in red / white.

High-speed schedule

Only seven months passed between the start of the project and the roll-out at the end of March 2022. In the coming weeks and until the start of the 24h race, further tests are scheduled on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring and at the BMW Group testing centre in Miramas in southern France. Located between Marseille and Avignon, the former race track offers the best conditions for extensive testing and optimisation under a wide range of conditions. The chassis of the MINI John Cooper Works racing car is subjected to an extensive and varied test programme there. Friedhelm Thelen, Nürburgring expert and team boss of Bulldog Racing, knows how important comprehensive testing is before a race: "The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring puts all components of the vehicle under extreme stress. That's why we're delighted to be able to use the BMW Group Test Centre to put the John Cooper Works through its paces there."

The BMW Group has been testing new models and innovative chassis technology at the Miramas test grounds since 1986. 

The driver line-up and the further race programme for 2022 will be announced at a later date.

In case of queries, please contact:
Press and Public Relations

Bulldog Racing Team
E-mail press@bulldog-racing.com

Andreas Lampka, Head of Communications MINI
E-mail: andreas.lampka@mini.com 

1. INTRODUCTION.

Blue-skies thinking, seeing challenges as opportunities, taking the wishes and needs of individuals into account openly and unconventionally – all these facets are firmly anchored in the tradition of the MINI brand. MINI is now charting the course for the future on the platform of this self-assured mindset. This involves MINI taking up the current challenges in the areas of mobility, energy economy and climate protection and facing up to them with independent solutions for the driving fun of tomorrow that is so typical of the brand. The strategy developed for this is based on the campaign slogan BIG LOVE. This symbolises the close commitment of the brand to the fundamental natural requirements of our planet, to human beings in all their diversity, to technological progress and to profitable growth as a manufacturer of premium cars.

The classic Mini was the ideal answer for contemporary issues of the time. It was developed during the era of the Suez oil crisis and was primarily an economical car that took a creative approach to space, occupied a minimal amount of space on the road and fitted into tiny parking spaces in urban centres. The classic Mini had a small footprint but offered enough space for four people and their luggage. Its revolutionary vehicle concept helped the pint-sized car to achieve its status as a classless car, which boasted a broad community of enthusiasts for unique driving fun all over the world. For the past 20 years, the modern MINI has been transferring these principles to the premium segment of small cars. Sustainability, social diversity, a spirit of innovation and the opportunity to tap into new target groups and markets are therefore elementary strengths of the brand. MINI is deploying these characteristics to meet the current challenges in the area of urban mobility and adopts a confident approach.

A clear acknowledgement of sustainability is expressed in a continuous reduction of the CO₂ footprint for each car over the entire production lifecycle. This encompasses the supply chain and the exclusive use of green electricity in production. Further contributing factors will be complete electrification of the model range by the early 2030s and a steadily increasing proportion of natural and recyclable materials used in the vehicles.

There is much more to the social responsibility being taken on by MINI. The classless car of yesteryear has long become the ideal vehicle for a diverse community. Male and female MINI drivers are individualists and at the same time part of a big community that interprets diversity as an enrichment for everybody. The team developing, producing and selling MINI models is diverse. As a manufacturer of premium cars operating on the global stage, MINI is committed to social diversity and supports initiatives that promote tolerance and an open society. The extent to which MINI feels committed to the positive zest for life of people is also demonstrated by a further commitment. MINI progresses solutions through the accelerator URBAN-X which improve life where the majority of people live: in towns and cities.

MINI is working up fresh ideas on the design of urban mobility in the future. Alongside innovative vehicle concepts such as the MINI Vision Urbanaut, this entrepreneurial approach includes pioneering developments in the area of digital services and products. Consequently, the User Experience associated with the use of the display and control system of MINI makes a major contribution to the driving fun so typical of the brand. Seamless integration of their smartphones empowers MINI customers to remain fully connected with their digital life while they are in their car. Furthermore, the MINI App is morphing into a community platform that not only deepens the relationship between driver and car but also connects MINI fans with each other.

“MINI was always the answer to very special challenges for individual mobility. And the willingness to rethink the status quo defines the brand to the present day,” commented Bernd Körber, Head of MINI. “Alongside electromobility, the development of new target groups and sales markets is a key factor for the future of MINI.” Starting as early as 2023, MINI is presenting a new generation of all-electric models. Two of the models developed from the ground up for pure electric mobility are being produced in China. Local production offers MINI optimised opportunities as a provider to participate more extensively than before in the dynamic growth in the Chinese automotive market. From 2023, the successor to the current MINI Countryman will be built at the BMW Group Plant Leipzig, powered by an electrified drive and with a combustion engine. All other MINI models will be produced at the MINI Plant Oxford, which remains the heart of MINI production. The United Kingdom will continue to be the home of the MINI brand.

2. BIG LOVE FOR THE PLANET. THE MINI STRATEGY FOR CONSISTENT SUSTAINABILITY.

Anyone selecting MINI will always be opting for sustainability. The principle of achieving more with less is part of the brand’s tradition. Way back in 1959, the designer of the classic Mini, Alec Issigonis, showed how effective and sustainable a car can be if it has a footprint on the road with a length of slightly over three metres while providing transport for four passengers and their luggage from A to B. The revolutionary design principle with the four-cylinder engine fitted crosswise at the front and the wheels positioned at the corners of the car also resulted in exceptionally agile driving characteristics at a low fuel consumption.

As a brand of the BMW Group, MINI is also dedicated to the strategic sustainability goals of the company. In 2020, the BMW Group developed its own agenda, which was even more ambitious than the goal of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, to limit global warming to less than two degrees Celsius. The company is therefore ready to meet the requirements of the EU programme “Fit for 55”, which provides for reducing the CO₂ emissions of new car fleets by 55 percent from 2030. The contribution by MINI includes consistent electrification of the model range. As early as the beginning of the 2030s, MINI will be an all-electric brand.

Consistent CO₂ reduction over the entire value chain.
In order to achieve this objective, the CO₂ footprint will be consistently reduced over the entire value chain, including production and upstream supply chain. By 2030, the BMW Group is planning a per-vehicle reduction of CO₂ emissions in this area by at least 40 percent compared with 2019. Over the long term, the BMW Group has defined the objective of establishing a climate-neutral business model over the entire value chain by the year 2050.

Binding environmental standards ensure that the CO₂ emissions within the supply chain will undergo a 20 percent reduction by the year 2030. The fact alone that the suppliers involved in the production of battery cells for vehicles powered by an electric drivetrain use exclusively green electricity means that over the coming ten years around ten million tons less CO₂ will be released into the atmosphere. MINI uses comparatively small energy storage systems for the design of high-voltage batteries. These ensure a range appropriate for urban mobility while simultaneously not impairing electricity consumption and the agility of the vehicles through excessively high weight. Transparent procurement monitored by the BMW Group ensures that the raw materials necessary for the construction of high-voltage batteries are compliant with environmental and social standards. The high-voltage batteries developed for electrically-powered models of MINI secure a long lifetime. After their application in the car, they can also be used in stationary storage systems for buildings also over a very long period. The storage units only have to be recycled after this repurposing and secondary use has finished. At the present time, more than 90 percent of the raw materials used in the batteries can be recycled.

Also after the year 2030, a reduction of CO₂ emissions by 80 percent is projected in the production of each vehicle. This means that the sustainability standards already achieved in BMW Group plants to date will be once again ramped up. At present, each MINI is already manufactured with a carbon-neutral footprint. Use of 100 percent green electricity at the MINI Plant Oxford makes a contribution to this. A proportion of this electricity is generated on site locally. One of the biggest photovoltaic generation systems in the United Kingdom has been installed on the roof of the production facilities. Around 11 500 solar cells with an output of around three megawatts generate electricity from solar energy and thereby save around 1 500 tons of CO₂ each year. 18 LNG-operated trucks are also being deployed in Oxford. They are powered by organic Liquid Natural Gas and thereby contribute to additional CO₂ reduction in the production process. The successor to the current MINI Countryman will be manufactured at the site of the BMW Group Plant Leipzig from 2023 onwards and wind turbines located here generate green electricity for vehicle production.

By 2030, a reduction of at least half of the CO₂ emissions compared with 2019 is projected for each vehicle and each kilometre driven. The electrification of the drivetrain plays a key role here. At an early stage, MINI took on a pioneering function in the development of local emission-free premium mobility. The field trials launched with a test fleet of 600 MINI E cars in 2009 yielded important findings about the use of an all-electric drive under practical, real-life working conditions in everyday urban traffic.

The brand already has two models in its product range with plug-in hybrid model MINI Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 (not sold in South Africa) and the all-electric powered MINI Cooper SE that permit local emission-free driving fun. If the high-voltage battery of the MINI Cooper SE is charged with energy from the conventional EU electricity mix, the CO₂ footprint is reduced by around 36 percent in comparison with a like-for-like MINI 3-door car powered by a petrol engine. If electricity is only used from renewable sources, the reduction is even as much as up to 70 percent.

The MINI Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 and the MINI Cooper SE meanwhile make up 15 percent of the total global sales of MINI. This proportion is projected to increase to 50 percent by 2027. At the beginning of the 2030s, MINI will only have all-electric powered models in its range.

Innovative materials, greater use of secondary raw materials.
Engineers at MINI are always finding new ways to provide maximum protection for natural resources in their selection of raw materials. For example, the proportion of secondary raw materials used in each vehicle is gradually being significantly increased for this purpose. By comparison with primary materials, this approach once again permits a substantial reduction of CO₂ emissions in production. An increasing proportion of secondary aluminium is another measure that will be used in future.

Recycled materials will also be employed in areas such as the roof liner, and for upholstery materials, seats, foot mats and floor coverings. In future, natural-fibre materials and plastics obtained from recycled PET bottles will be used instead of leather. Recycled fishing nets will form the raw materials for floor mats. The potential for renewable materials is used particularly comprehensively in the study MINI Vision Urbanaut. The entire interior is free of leather and chrome. Instead, natural materials like cork are used for the steering wheel and on sections of the floor, and removable covers made of knitted textile are also used. This creates a pleasant ambience in a natural way.

Tailor-made sustainability and with maximum consistency: MINI STRIP.
MINI STRIP was recently presented as an unconventional example so typical of MINI, demonstrating how creative thinking can pave the way towards more sustainability. This custom special was created in a collaboration between MINI and the British fashion designer Paul Smith. A tailor-made one of one was designed on the basis of a MINI Cooper SE incorporating the themes “Simplicity, Transparency, Sustainability”. As the name of the car suggests, this vehicle was reduced to its structural essence. Ultimately, only those elements regarded by Paul Smith as absolutely essential were used.

This consistent focus on sustainability resulted in features such as a radically reduced interior where the conventional four-part instrument panel is replaced by a large, semi-transparent component with a smoked-glass look and the customer’s smartphone takes on the function of the central instrument. Untreated panels and recycled materials from a 3D printer are the dominant feature in the exterior. Visible bolts on the mounted parts indicate that the individual components can be easily dismantled and fed back into the raw-material cycle at the end of the vehicle lifecycle.

Support for initiatives benefiting sustainability.
MINI is pursuing a large number of activities beyond the boundaries of manufacturing cars which are targeted at enhancing the quality of life and sustainability in the urban environment. These measures include, for example, cooperation between MINI and the non-profit organisation Earthwatch Europe in the United Kingdom called the “Tiny Forest” initiative. Just as a small space in MINI is used highly efficiently, MINI also supports the “Tiny Forest” initiative being implemented by the environmental conservationists. Alongside the British body-pressing plant in Swindon, MINI has commissioned the planting of around 600 trees very close to each other, which will be allowed to grow in a completely natural way. This initiative captures additional CO₂ and creates a habitat for more than 500 species of animal and plant. Another “Tiny Forest” is planned at the MINI Plant Oxford in 2022.

Local initiatives are also presented on the platform MINI VOICES. These have the potential to change the world. One example of this is provided by the architect Clarisse Merlet showcased by MINI France. She developed a method of obtaining environmentally benign construction materials from clothing that cannot be recovered. Her FabBRICK start-up based in Paris produces bricks made from recycled textile waste. The Swiss start-up Umami also presented on MINI VOICES produces microgreens, which are grown in an aquaponics system. The nutritious plants form a closed-loop circulation together with fish and freshwater shrimps. They are cultivated here without any artificial fertilisers. The microgreens from the start-up are supplied to prestigious restaurants in Zurich.

3. BIG LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE. THE ENGAGEMENT OF MINI
FOR DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

MINI promotes diversity – inside and outside the MINI organisation. As an international company, community and social responsibility are a top priority at MINI. This also includes a clearly-defined commitment to diversity within the company. “We are all different, but pretty good together” – employees at MINI all over the world are cooperating successfully in accordance with this motto. MINI perceives diversity as a strength. The company is convinced that diverse teams are more creative and more innovative. They are therefore a key factor for success in competition for new markets, customers and qualified up-and-coming talent.

The approach has been firmly anchored in the DNA of MINI since its foundation in 1959. The designer of the classic Mini, Alec Issigonis, was born in Turkey in 1906 as the son of a mother originating from Bavaria and a British father of Greek origin.

Open, free of prejudice and respectful corporate culture.
MINI – building on the diversity strategy of the BMW Group – has set up the MINI Diversity Programme in order to continue to strengthen the awareness for all dimensions of diversity within the company and to exert a positive impact on the corporate culture. At MINI, this means living and promoting a corporate culture, in which all employees are treated with equal value and respect, regardless of their origin, identity, age, sexual orientation, and whether or not they have a disability. This is all about creating an optimum working environment in an open and respectful corporate culture that is entirely free of prejudice.

MINI has always been a brand that brings together different people. This is also demonstrated in the motto asserted by the global premium car manufacturer on its journey to an inclusive future: “We are all different, but pretty good together”. The company raises the awareness of its employees and its managers to topics associated with diversity through training sessions, presentations and dialogue formats.

The everyday working environment at MINI has a long track record of demonstrating progress for absolute equality in the staffing structure for departments, responsibilities and management positions of all types. Today, there are already more women than men working in the total workforce at MINI.

The company has defined targets in relation to the proportion of women for sustainable promotion of women in management functions. In order to achieve these targets, MINI has carefully analysed existing measures and programmes and strategically optimised them. These include new formats for strategic promotion of female junior managers and the possibility of organising management functions with two persons in joint leadership. Furthermore, MINI ensures a high proportion of women in the junior management promotion programmes and is committed to seamless return to the world of work after parental leave.

Experience driving fun: MINI Safety Training for people with disabilities.
Outside the company’s own organisational structure, MINI is committed to openness and diversity. As part of this engagement, the BMW and MINI Driving Academy programme now includes a safety training course for people with disabilities and this enhances driving fun for them.

In order to achieve this target, training vehicles are converted so that they have hand controls. This means that both hands can always remain on the steering wheel. An additional ring on the steering wheel is used to accelerate. A special brake lever is configured directly alongside. These conversions allow vehicles such as the 170 kW MINI John Cooper Works to be driven confidently and with sporty verve at the training location after some practice.

4. BIG LOVE FOR PROGRESS. DIGITALISATION AND INNOVATIONS FOR TYPICAL MINI DRIVING FUN.

Global challenges like climate change and urbanisation provide the impetus for MINI to drive forward innovations. These improve customer experience and generate positive impacts for society and the environment. MINI is dedicated to progress not simply through innovative vehicle technology but also with activities in the area of community life on a social level. The focus here is on vehicle concepts for urban mobility, technologies for more sustainability, digital services and initiatives that enrich life in towns and cities with new momentum.

The consistent electrification of the model range plays the key role in the development going forward towards greater sustainability. The second key area of the future is digitalisation. MINI is cooperating with experts from Critical TechWorks in Lisbon to develop digital services and products for all markets with the aim of continuously driving forward change and improvement in urban mobility.
Smartphone integration and MINI App: driving fun and digital lifestyle combined.

In order to align the experience of mobility with the requirements of contemporary target groups and to define trends for driving fun in the future, MINI is working on pioneering developments in the area of digital services and products. Urban mobility is increasingly being transformed into an integrated component of the customer’s digital lifestyle. This is why the user experience associated with the use of the display and control system in MINI makes a major contribution to the driving fun so typical of the brand. Seamless integration of their smartphones enables MINI customers also to remain fully connected with their digital world of living in the vehicle.

The MINI App is offered for iOS and Android operating systems and can be downloaded by users free of charge from the Apple App Store or in the Google Play Store. The app offers continuous information on the status of the vehicle, optional remote functions such as locking and unlocking the doors and direct contact with the driver’s MINI Service Partner. The latest functions include more transparent route planning through Trip Detail Enhancement. After selecting the destination, if users click on “Display Route”, they can see the traffic situation on the planned route, the distance and the driving time directly in the MINI App. The function Fuel Prices empowers users to search for filling stations and easily compare fuel prices without having to open another app. The MINI App includes the Explore MINI Tab that continuously offers relevant and interesting editorial content about the products, services and values of the MINI brand, initially in Germany, Austria and the United Kingdom. This content can be shared with other users.

MINI also defines benchmarks in the area of shared mobility. The MINI Sharing App is easily accessed using a link in the MINI App and it enables family members and friends to issue invitations to each other, provided that they also have the app. If a friend wants to use the vehicle for a certain period of time, they can use the app to send a request to the owner. This is then displayed in the calendar function of the new MINI Sharing App and the owner can confirm and manage the request there. After approval has been given, the vehicle can be unlocked, started and locked using the smartphone.

Digital technology for a community platform and for typical MINI individualisation.
MINI also makes use of the opportunities offered by digitalisation to enhance the community activities typical of the brand. MINI fans across the world exchange views extensively with each other, in a dialogue that often extends beyond models, vehicle segments and national borders. At the same time, they are also open to digital technology and make use of it for lively and spirited communication with each other. MINI gears the digital services it develops closely to the interests of these target groups. The future expansion stage of the MINI App is growing into a community platform. The users can take advantage of services from MINI in this digital ecosystem and at the same time get in touch with each other. The MINI App will be transformed into a digital platform that deepens the relationship between driver and vehicle and strengthens the community of MINI fans.

New opportunities typical for MINI are continually being created in the area of individualisation as a result of digitalisation. In the next model generation of MINI, the instrument panel located in the interior will have surfaces acting as “canvases” that can be tailored by the customer to suit their requirements using the vehicle’s control system. Various colours and patterns can be created on these surfaces by projection. This enables each driver to create their very own personal interior – to match their individual style since they are able to refresh it whenever they want.

Progressing new impulses through cooperation with start-ups.
The MINI start-up accelerator URBAN-X has been working with start-up companies since 2016. These enterprises are aiming to use their innovations to make life in towns and cities better, more agreeable, more convenient, more sustainable or simply an improved experience. Since the start of this venture, more than 70 start-ups from different countries have already been through the accelerator programme.

The founders of the selected start-ups are supported in developing their business model further in a creative exchange with designers, engineers and developers from MINI. The innovations brought about in the course of this process relate to some of the most urgent urban challenges, ranging from building technology and infrastructure, through mobility and energy supply to public health and services for citizens.

5. BIG LOVE FOR THE BRAND. MINI MODEL RANGE,
PRODUCTION AND MARKET PRESENCE WITH CLEAR ALIGNMENT ON PROFITABLE GROWTH.

The realignment of the model range, the expansion of production capacities and conquering new target groups and markets are the focus of the strategy that allows MINI to create the enablers for profitable growth as a global manufacturer of premium cars. The strategy will empower MINI to develop into a brand that increasingly contributes to the sustainable profitability of the BMW Group. MINI consistently concentrates on the vehicle segments, drive technologies and services of the future. There is a particular focus on electromobility, on enhanced commitment in the crossover and in the premium compact segment and on strengthening the market position in China. In this endeavour, MINI is committed to the capacity firmly embedded in the brand’s tradition of rethinking existing concepts, questioning the status quo and seizing challenges as an opportunity.

Six decades ago, the classic Mini succeeded in impressing different target groups with driving fun and creative use of space in a variety of different ways. The spectrum of developments ranged from the Mini Van with expanded cargo capacities to the exclusive versions Wolseley Hornet and Riley Elf. Furthermore, only about one year after the debut of the revolutionary little car, the Mini Cooper was already on the scene – the basis for enhanced driving fun on the road and subsequent success in motor sport.

Once again after the relaunch of the brand and the commencement of sales for the modern MINI 20 years ago, the typical attributes of the new premium compact were soon being transferred to other model versions. The current model range in the small car segment comprises the models MINI 3-door, MINI 5-door and MINI Convertible. Furthermore, MINI succeeded in penetrating the premium compact segment. This is where the equally practical and extravagant six-door MINI Clubman and the MINI Countryman as robust all-rounders in the popular crossover style deliver the go-kart feeling typical of the brand so that it can also be experienced in the realms beyond urban mobility. In addition, the MINI community’s awareness of individual style is also taken into account now and in the future with attractive editions and exclusive small series.

The sub-brand John Cooper Works has now been integrated under the umbrella of MINI and it is represented with two extremely sporty models in both the small-car and compact segment. The MINI John Cooper Works GP produced in a small series specifically embodies intense passion for motor sport powered by its 225 kW four-cylinder turbo engine.

Consistent electrification, typical MINI driving fun.
In parallel with this, the characteristic MINI feeling is enriching the world of electromobility. The roadmap to this is smoothed by a plug-in hybrid model based on the MINI Countryman. In 2019, the MINI Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 (not sold in South Africa) alone represented a share of five percent of total sales for the brand on vehicles with electrified drive. Only a few months later and after the launch of the all-electric MINI Cooper SE, this share doubled to ten percent of all new registrations of the brand. In the first half year of 2021, the proportion of electrified models in total global sales of the British premium brand had already reached more than 15 percent.

In 2023, MINI will present the first model of a new generation of purely electrically powered vehicles. The future core portfolio of electric cars will include the MINI 3-door and a crossover model in both the small-car and in the premium compact segment. The brand’s small-car models and a crossover model in the premium compact segment also provide a parallel choice powered by conventional combustion engines. Cars with highly efficient petrol and diesel engines will continue to be an ideal solution in future for target groups and regions where the mobility requirements are not met or not yet met with all-electric drivetrains. MINI is assuming that electric vehicles will already make up 50 percent of total global sales of MINI by 2027. Already in 2025, the last new MINI model powered with a combustion engine will come onto the market. At the beginning of the 2030s, MINI will be an all-electric brand.

Consistent electrification also presents new perspectives for the John Cooper Works brand. MINI is working intensively on concepts for electric John Cooper Works models. This brand was inspired by intense passion for motor sport and the objective is to transfer the performance character to electromobility. This approach will combine sustainability and extreme sportiness in a unique way.

Model offensive in the crossover and in the premium compact segment.
Another component in the strategy for profitable growth is the enhanced commitment by MINI in the class of crossover models. This enables MINI to combine driving fun so typical of the brand in this segment with sustainable drivetrain technology. In order to be able to benefit even more intensively than previously from global growth in the vehicle class, MINI will also offer a crossover model in the small-car segment, which will only be available with a purely electric drivetrain. 2023 will see the production launch of the successor to the current MINI Countryman, which is extremely successful in the premium compact segment. It will be available with an electrified drive and a combustion engine.

Today, MINI already achieves around 40 percent of global vehicle sales with models for the premium compact segment. The successor to the current MINI Countryman is geared towards making more extensive use of this potential than has been the case to date. Furthermore, MINI is working on the development of a new vehicle concept for the premium compact segment. This will meet the wishes of many customers for space and comfort, and increased variability. A host of creative solutions in this area were presented with the MINI Vision Urbanaut. The vehicle provides a particularly fascinating vision with its especially sustainable interior supporting versatile uses and the selection of materials and functionality. The study transfers the typical MINI principle of creative use of space to the future of urban mobility. This vehicle concept therefore meets the claim to pack maximum driving fun, available space and individuality typical of MINI onto the smallest road footprint in the competitive environment.

New production locations, strengthened commitment in China.
The world’s biggest automotive market in China continues to undergo dynamic growth and its importance for MINI will increase significantly in the future. At the present time, around ten percent of all new vehicles of the brand produced are delivered to customers in China. In order to take part in the positive development of the market in China and to have the capability to sell a significantly higher number of cars, MINI will soon move from the status of an import brand to a locally produced car brand.

From 2023 onwards, the new models of the small-car segment developed for e-mobility will be produced in China. Production will be located at the newly constructed automobile plant in the east of China. MINI will use the cars produced there to meet the increasing demand in China and the other global markets for local, emission-free driving fun. The cooperation with the Chinese partner is based on a clearly defined principle: Production follows the market. MINI will be able to serve the growing Chinese automotive market with locally produced cars and at the same time keep production stable at other production facilities.

Production of the next generation MINI Countryman will also be launched in 2023 and the car will be built at the BMW Group Plant Leipzig, making it the first MINI Made in Germany. All other MINI models will be produced at the MINI Plant in Oxford, which remains the heart of MINI production. The United Kingdom will continue to be the home of the MINI brand.

^{The BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production and assembly facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network with representatives in more than 140 countries.} 

^{In 2020, the BMW Group sold over 2.3 million passenger vehicles and more than 169,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2020 was € 5.222 billion on revenues amounting to € 98.990 billion. As of 31 December 2020, the BMW Group had a workforce of 120,726 employees worldwide.} 

^{The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.}

^{www.bmwgroup.com}

^{www.mini.co.za}

^{Twitter: https://twitter.com/MINISouthAfrica}

^{Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MINI.southafrica/}

^{Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mini_southafrica/}

^{YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MINISouthAfrica}

^{LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmwsouthafrica}

Rome. As ‘Official Vehicle Partner’, the BMW Group has been closely linked with the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship since the very first race around seven years ago. Since the Rome E-Prix (ITA) at the weekend, a new FIA Formula E safety car leads the field: the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW. The fully electric car was designed by BMW Motorsport such that racing technology makes it perfectly suited to the special requirements of a FIA Formula E safety car. FIA President Jean Todt and the official FIA Formula E safety car driver Bruno Correia (POR) were among those won over at a race weekend with plenty of safety car action.
 
“The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is the top electric racing series as well as an efficient way to promote urban sustainable mobility,” said Todt. “The new Official Safety Car - the MINI Electric Pacesetter - is a case in point. As safety is one of the FIA's top priorities, we’ve collaborated with BMW Group and Formula E to develop a car model to play this key role. I have had the pleasure to test it in Rome last weekend and its first outing has met the expectations. It has reminded me of nice memories as I started to compete in Rally in a Mini Cooper.“
 
In light of adverse weather conditions and turbulent races with several incidents, the new FIA Formula E safety car was called into action four times on its debut in Rome. Both races were started behind the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW, and the race on Saturday even ended behind the safety car after incidents shortly before the finish. The incidents gave Correia plenty of opportunities to get to know the car.
 
“It is fantastic to have a fully electric car leading the Formula E field,” said Correia. “The MINI Electric Pacesetter is perfect for the narrow street circuits of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The handling of the car is fantastic. And thanks to the modifications for use on the racetrack – for example, to the suspension and the brakes – the MINI is extremely fast and agile.”
 
The positive verdict of former racing driver Correia is a great description of the unique character of the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW. In this instance, BMW Motorsport did not convert an existing road vehicle into the FIA Formula E Safety Car. Instead, the engineers used the new MINI Cooper SE as a basis to design a totally new safety car.
 
“We approached the project both in terms of safety and handling as if we were building a racing car, and started with the body in white of the MINI Cooper SE,” described Rudolf Dittrich, head of vehicle development at BMW Motorsport. “The result is a car that sets standards in braking power, cornering performance and agility. And it is precisely these areas that are crucial on the narrow street circuits in Formula E.”
 
In addition to the body in white, the powertrain is another component taken from the production vehicle. Only details were modified to meet the specific requirements of a safety car, and it yields 135kW of power and 280 Nm of torque. This sees the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW sprint from 0-100 km/h in 6.7 seconds (production: 7.3 sec.), from 0-60 km/h in 3.6 sec. (production: 3.9 sec.) and from 80-120 km/h in 4.3 sec. (production: 4.6 sec.).
 
The brakes are largely identical in construction to those of the MINI John Cooper Works GP. For the chassis, the basic concept was adopted from production; however, numerous components (for example, the spring damper system) were replaced with motorsport elements. A totally new feature is the Kevlar underride guard familiar from rallying, and which primarily protects the battery of the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW when driving roughly over kerbs. The size, profile and rubber compound of the tyres have also been modified for use as a safety car.
 
Through the consistent use of carbon and CFRP in the construction of the specific bodywork modifications, some of which were even produced using 3D printing, the BMW Motorsport engineers were able to achieve a weight reduction of around 130 kg compared with the production model, and thus an unladen weight of around 1,230 kg. The safety car contains all the modules required by the FIA for passive safety. In the interior, the driver has all the required systems such as radio, GPS, transponder and the control panels for the lighting system.
 
Alongside the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW, the BMW i8 Roadster Safety Car, which has been modified specially for racing use, will continue to be appearing as a Formula E safety car. The fleet also includes the BMW i3s as ‘Race Director Car’ and the BMW iX3 in its roles as ‘Medical Car’ and ‘Rescue Car’.
 
Click HERE for more information about the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW.
 

Electric drive meets John Cooper Works.
“We have already shown how well driving fun and electric mobility go together with the MINI Electric,” says Bernd Körber, Head of MINI. “However, the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW goes at least a step further and blends the performance character of the John Cooper Works brand with electric mobility. This extreme version of the MINI Electric has been developed as the Safety Car for Formula E, so is clearly not intended for use on public roads. But it does reveal one of the directions we could take with the electrification of the JCW brand. For me, the message is clear: electrification and John Cooper Works are a good fit.”

Dynamism maximised  – the exterior design.

The exterior of the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW has been purpose-built for life on the track and represents the most dynamic interpretation yet of a MINI with all-electric power. “The design is an exciting symbiosis of technical precision and emotion,” explains Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design. “Here, function dictates form, and many design elements have been shaped by technical considerations. For example, we worked closely with our colleagues at BMW Motorsport to develop the form of the wheel arches and front and rear aprons, and the optimisation programme for them included weight-saving measures. This visually striking, technically precise design language gives the car its pervasive sense of emotional engagement and excitement.”

At the front of the car, classical MINI icons such as the circular headlights and hexagonal radiator grille create the familiar, easily recognisable MINI face. At the same time, signature John Cooper Works elements, such as wheel arches adapted to the car’s track width and the deep front apron with additional front splitters to the left and right, enhance the sporting visuals of the front end. The blanked off “radiator grille” and MINI Electric logo point to the electric “heart” of the Safety Car. As virtually no drive system cooling is required through the upper area of the grille, the front end is largely enclosed to aid aerodynamics. The only exceptions are the area below the grille and the eye-catching, almost squared-off apertures for brake cooling. The Safety Car’s white flashing lights are integrated harmoniously into the bonnet. Characteristic MINI bonnet stripes extend over the roof to the rear end.

Showcasing MINI’s racing genes – the flanks.

The MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW also cuts an extremely dynamic figure from the side. The interplay of geometrically accentuated spats (with carefully placed aero edges) and sporty side skirts gives the car the appearance of powering forward even before it turns a wheel. Together with the increased-diameter wheels, which almost fill the wheel arches, these elements strengthen the time-honoured MINI “stance on the wheels”. The spats and spoilers are made – or more precisely 3D printed from recycled carbon fibre – in Oxford. Yellow accent lines and surfaces on the aero elements (e.g. the spats, skirts and rear wing) provide a nod to the airflow optimisation taking place in these areas and add a visual flourish to the air deflectors and aero edges. The lightweight 18-inch forged wheels in bi-colour black-neon/orange design bring significant visual depth and added intricacy to the four-spoke items from the MINI John Cooper Works GP.

The respective colour worlds of the MINI Electric and John Cooper Works brand merge into a single statement here. The main body colour is a matt silver which extends back beyond the centre-point of the car. A high-gloss wrap with a two-stage colour gradient – from Highspeed Orange to Curbside Red met. – then covers the rest of the body to the rear. The contrast between matt and gloss surfaces brings extra smoothness to the silhouette, while the clear, diagonal separation lines between the different colours injects further dynamism. On the flanks, a chequered flag-inspired pattern shares the stage with a large MINI Electric logo, which can also be found in the radiator grille, on the roof and at the rear end. The Safety Car brief also brings regulations-specific and sponsor-related graphics, which add further visual intensity to the car’s racing character.

Broad and eye-catching – the rear.

The rear end in black and Curbside Red metallic uses yellow accent surfaces to extend the eye-catching design language from the front end and flanks, and makes an extremely modern and dynamic statement. The prominent roof-mounted rear wing with air through-flow and yellow accent lines also integrates the signal light unit and was 3D printed at Plant Oxford. The flared wheel arches accentuate the car’s wide track and transition seamlessly into the pronounced rear apron. The rear apron has cut-outs around the wheels, clearing the view to the higher-grip racing tyres. Between the wheels sits an unadorned diffuser. When the car is viewed from this angle, the accents in Energetic Yellow and lack of exhaust tailpipes identify this as a car powered by an electric drive system.

Maximum reduction – the interior.

The interior is stripped back to the absolute essentials; only the front seats remain. The driver’s area consists of a certified seat with six-point belt approved for both racing and road use, a steering wheel with minimalist-design carbon fibre impact absorber and a digital instrument cluster. The central information display makes way for a carbon fibre cover here to further reduce weight. The centre console houses the gearshift lever, handbrake and controls for the necessary signal lights – all in exposed carbon fibre. The likewise pared-back carbon-fibre door panels with window and door openers contain cloth straps to make closing the doors easier. Another central feature of the interior is the welded-in roll cage, which maximises safety. And the remainder of the stripped-out interior structure is also painted in typical racing white (for functional reasons).

Bespoke 3D-printed parts for the interior.

The steering wheel’s minimalist impact absorber and the boost panel on the right-hand side of the wheel are high-quality, custom-made components, likewise the centre console cowling and door panelling on the driver’s side. Another highlight are the removable pads on the sport seat, which are likewise 3D-printed and whose innovative structure combines comfort, robustness and modularity. The thickness, hardness and colour of the pads can be adapted as required according to the physiognomy, weight and personal taste of the driver at hand.

Ready for the racetrack, helped by knowhow from BMW Motorsport.

Behind the visually powerful design of the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW lies the expertise of BMW Motorsport. Rigorous adherence to lightweight design principles gives the Safety Car a kerb weight of approx. 1,230 kg – which makes it approx. 130 kg lighter than the standard MINI Cooper SE. The drive system – also based on that found in the MINI Cooper SE – produces 135 kW and 280 Nm, which enables the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW to sprint from 0-100 km/h in 6.7 seconds (standard model: 7.3 s) and from 0-60 km/h in 3.6 seconds (standard model: 3.9 s). Even more important for a Safety Car, though, are the mid-range figures. Here, the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW showcases all the talents of its torque-rich electric drive system with single-speed transmission, enabling a 80-120 km/h time of 4.3 seconds (standard model: 4.6 s) 

The drive system teams up with racing coilover suspension (three-way adjustable for rebound, compression, height and camber) to deliver maximum go-kart feeling. Race-spec suspension control arm mountings, a 10 mm increase in track width, plus the four-piston brakes and wheels from the MINI John Cooper Works GP with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres (size 245/40 R18) round off the overall package. These are the same tyres fitted to the front wheels of Formula E racing cars.

Premiere at the Rome E-Prix on 10.04.2021

The MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW will see action for the first time in Rome on 10 April 2021 at the second event (Race 3) of Formula E’s 2021 season. At the wheel will be official FIA Formula E Safety Car driver Bruno Correia, as BMW i Andretti Motorsport drivers Maximilian Guenther (GER) and Jake Dennis (GBR) battle it out for victory in their BMW iFE.21 racers.

“Agility, performance, a cool looking car: the MINI Electric Pacesetter Safety Car for the FIA Formula E World Championship has got it all,” said Correia. “It’s very fun to drive, it feels like karting.”

Clear exterior design accents give it a purist appearance that emphasises the hallmark design features. In addition, the innovative Multitone Roof creates unique individualisation opportunities. In the interior, the extensively redesigned cockpit underlines the premium character of the MINI-3 door, the MINI-5 door and the MINI Convertible. Attractive additions to the range of standard and optional equipment, new exterior paint finishes, light-alloy wheels, interior and seating surfaces as well as innovative technology in the areas of chassis, driver assistance systems, operation and connectivity round off the latest update for the British brand's small car models.

1. More than an automobile.
The MINI Model Family Over the Years. 2

2. With traditional sporting spirit and British flair.
The MINI 60 Years Edition. 10

3. Motor sport meets lifestyle.
MINI and the success story in motor sport.12

4. MINI All the Way – Always Different.
Customised to Your Personal Taste. 17

5. Traditional Values and Modern Diversity.
Concept and Technology. 21

6. From the Original to the Original.
The MINI Design. 29

7. The Revolutionary with the Drawing Pad.
Sir Alec Issigonis, the Father of the Classic Mini. 36

8. Made in England – Then and Now.
MINI Production between Past and Future. 39

9. Individualists Unite!
MINI fans are networked worldwide. 42

10. The Car for All Classes, with the Qualities of a Star.
MINI as a Member of Society. 45

11. Small Car, Great Show.
MINI Marketing. 48

12. Inspiring Character.
MINI Lifestyle and Special Editions. 51

13. A Question of Style.
The MINI Lifestyle Collection. 54

1.   More than an automobile.
The MINI model family over years.

The original in the premium segment of small cars has reached its 60th birthday – but it is even younger than ever. It was sixty years ago, to be precise on 26 August 1959, that British Motor Corporation (BMC) proudly revealed the result of their development activities in creating a new, revolutionary compact car. And indeed, the public right from the start were able to admire no less than two new models: The Morris Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven. This double premiere of two almost identical four-seaters was of course attributable at the time to the broad range of brands offered by BMC in the market, but it was also of very symbolic nature.

Lots of space inside with minimum dimensions outside, seats for four passengers, impeccable driving characteristics, superior fuel economy, and a very affordable price – precisely this was the brief the creator of the Mini, automotive engineer and designer Alec Issigonis, received from BMC’s Top Management. And the brilliant ideas he implemented in developing this two-door for a family of four had an impact quite sufficient for more than one single car, an impact therefore carried over successfully to other model variants.

Precisely this is why the Mini Van and Mini Estate also appeared on the market in the very first year of production of the classic Mini. And ever since the re-birth of the brand with the market launch of the MINI in 2001, the principle already applied successfully sixty years ago has once again proven its full value: a superior concept is always convincing in many different variants and renditions. Today, this still applies for the small cars MINI 3-door, MINI 5-door and MINI Convertible, for the MINI Clubman and the MINI Countryman in the premium compact segment, and soon for the all-electric powered MINI Cooper SE. They all show their individual strength and unique character, while right inside they are one and the same car in particular: a MINI.

Right from the start the very first sales brochures proudly presenting the Morris Mini-Minor highlighted the car’s clear and steadfast orientation to the future. But to what extent these prophecies would really come true, hardly anybody would have believed back then.

Today, sixty years later, we know that only very few car concepts have survived such a long time, and none of them has ever been converted into such a wide range of variants as the Mini.

One of the reasons for this outstanding success is that from the start the Mini met all the requirements of its time, while offering further qualities in the same process. Measuring just 3.05 metres or 120" in length and selling at a retail price of £ 496, the Mini was simply perfect for small parking spaces and low budgets. Through its driving qualities and the charming character of its proportions alone, the Mini was however also of great interest to the ambitious motorist seeking not only compact dimensions and superior economy, but also sporting performance particularly in bends as well as individual style on the road.

This blend of different qualities remains as popular today as ever before, with a concept likewise younger than ever. Hence, the current MINI is also more up-to-date and, at the same time, more fascinating and respected than any of its competitors, combining unparalleled efficiency, lasting value of the highest calibre, and incredibly agile handling in the modern mega-city with unrivalled sportiness and design full of expression and quite unmistakable.

Longer, stronger, more sophisticated, more versatile: the first variants of the classic Mini.

Introducing the classic Mini, Alec Issigonis, the creator of this unique car, clearly fulfilled his mission. The Morris Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven, differing solely through their radiator grille, wheel caps and body colour, were both powered by a four-cylinder engine fitted crosswise at the front and delivering maximum output of 34 hp from 848 cubic centimetres.

The performance of both models was identical, as was their luggage capacity of 195 litres or 6.83 cubic feet at the rear. Everybody was thrilled by the generous space available, the efficient but powerful engines, the good roadholding and the comfortable suspension this new compact car had to offer. But Issigonis was already looking far into the future – and he was not the only one.

As early as in 1960, BMC added a Mini Van to the classic Mini. Then, proceeding from this van structure with its closed side panels, BMC introduced an Estate version with glass windows all round as well as two rear doors, like the Van.

Like the saloons, this body variant was also marketed as the Morris Mini-Traveller and the Austin Seven Countryman with exactly the same technical features. And at the latest in 1961 the potential of the classic Mini really became clear once and for all, the year starting with the introduction of the smallest of all transporters, the Mini Pick-Up. Just half a year later two other Minis, this time at the noble end of the scale, saw the light of day: the Wolseley Hornet and the Riley Elf.

Now, therefore, two further BMC brands were able to benefit from the concept of the classic Mini, both models proudly bearing their own distinguished look through their majestic radiator grilles, an extended luggage compartment and swallow-tail wings at the rear. A very special variant destined more than any other to create the legend of the classic Mini made its appearance in the second half of the year: the Mini Cooper. John Cooper, the famous engineer and manufacturer of sports cars already a close friend of Alec Issigonis, had recognised the sporting potential of this new small car right from the start, when the first prototypes appeared on the track. So he received the go-ahead from BMC’s top managers to develop a small series of 1,000 units of the Mini Cooper featuring a modified power unit enlarged in size to 1.0 litres and offering maximum output of 55 hp.

The response to this car entering the market in September 1961 was quite simply euphoric, with only one further request from enthusiasts everywhere: even more power! So Issigonis and Cooper enlarged engine capacity to 1,071 cc, raising engine output to 70 hp.

This made the Mini Cooper S a truly exceptional performer not only on the road, with Finnish driver’s Rauno Aaltonen’s class win in the 1963 Monte Carlo Rally marking the starting point for a truly unparalleled series of outstanding success in motorsport. The highlight, of course, was three overall wins in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965, and 1967.

Versatility at its best: from the Mini Moke to the Mini Clubman.

In August 1964 BMC presented yet another version of the classic Mini originally conceived for military use: the Mini Moke, a four-seater open all round and destined to remain in the price list for four years.

The “bodyshell” of this unique car was made up, for all practical purposes, of the floorpan with wide, box-shaped side-sills, together with the engine compartment and windscreen. To the event of rainfall, a folding soft top appropriately referred to as a “ragtop” at least tried to provide certain protection. Using the drivetrain and technical features of the “regular” Mini, the Mini Moke became a genuine success particularly in sun-drenched parts of the USA and in Australia. By 1967 the time had come for a thorough update of the classic Mini, the car receiving a more powerful engine offering 38 hp from a larger capacity of 998 cc.

Two years later the Mini Clubman joined the range as a slightly larger model with a somewhat different front end compared to the classic Mini. Indeed, this sister car was some 11 cm or 4.33" longer than the original, the Estate version replacing the Morris Mini-Traveller and the Austin Seven Countryman measuring exactly 3.4 metres or 133.9" in length, while width, height, and wheelbase remained unchanged. At the same time the Mini Cooper was taken out of production, being replaced by the top model in the Clubman range, the Mini 1275 GT developing 59 hp from its 1.3-litre power unit. A number of other details also changed in 1969, the front sliding windows so typical of the classic Mini since the beginning being replaced on all models by wind-down windows, the door hinges at the outside being moved to the inside, and a special “Mini” badge now standing out proudly on the engine compartment lid.

Never-ending classic Mini and the comeback of the Mini Cooper.

Numerous special versions of the classic Mini with all kinds of highlights – from sporting to trendy, from distinguished to fresh – entered the market as of mid-1970. Between 1980 and 1983 the model range was streamlined appropriately, with the Clubman, Estate and Van leaving production. The “only” car left over, therefore, was the classic Mini with its 1.0-litre power unit now delivering 40 hp. And customers, simply loving the car, remained faithful to this little performer for years to come, the five-millionth classic Mini coming off the production line at Plant Longbridge in 1986.

In 1990 fans the world over were delighted to celebrate the comeback of the Mini Cooper once again entering the model range. Now this special model was powered in all cases by a 1.3-litre, production of the 1.0-litre in the Mini ending in 1992 on account of growing requirements in terms of emission management. So from now on all models came with the 1,275-cc power unit and fuel injection.

Yet another new variant of the classic Mini made its appearance in 1991 as the last new model in the range. And this was indeed the only Mini to originate not in Britain, but in Germany: Like some tuners before him, a dedicated Mini dealer in the German region of Baden had cut the roof off the classic Mini, turning the car into an extremely attractive Convertible. And contrary to earlier attempts, the result was so good this time in its quality that Rover Group, now responsible for the classic Mini, decided to buy the construction tools and production equipment for the Mini Convertible, which from 1993 to 1996 accounted for sales of approximately 1,000 units.

Production of the classic Mini finally ceased once and for all in the year 2000. In the course of time more than 5.3 million units of the world’s most successful compact car had left the production plants in numerous different versions, among them some 600,000 cars built at Plant Oxford between 1959 and 1968. But even after 41 years, there was still a long way to go. For after a break of not quite one year, a new chapter in the history of this world-famous British brand opened up in 2001.

A new start in 2001 – starring the MINI Cooper right from the beginning.

Taking over Rover Group in early 1994, BMW also opened up new perspectives for the Mini brand. The first step was to present a concept version of the MINI Cooper at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show offering an outlook at the new interpretation of this unique small car from Great Britain. As a modern rendition of the Mini’s concept so rich in tradition, the new version for the first time combined the classic values of its predecessor with the demands made of a modern car set to enter the 21st century. The series production version of the MINI Cooper made its first official appearance in November 2000 at the Berlin Motor Show, the future-oriented interpretation of the original entering showrooms just a year later in the guise of the 85 kW/115 hp MINI Cooper and the 66 kW/90 hp MINI One. Featuring front-wheel drive, four-cylinder power units fitted crosswise at the front, short body overhangs and ample space for four, the new models successfully took up elementary features of the classic Mini. And while the exterior dimensions of the car were now larger, meeting modern requirements in terms of interior space, the design of the new model clearly retained the proportions so typical of the brand, as well as the unmistakable design icons at the front, the rear and at the side, thus boasting a clearly recognisable link between the MINI and its classical predecessors.

At the same time the MINI built in Oxford stood out clearly as the first premium car in the compact segment, achieving a status strongly reflected by a level of safety uniquely high for a car of this class as well as the uncompromising standard of quality so typical of BMW.  The new MINI also set new standards through its surprisingly agile handling, immediately moving right up to the top in terms of driving pleasure. This meant that the new model followed in the footsteps of the classic Mini, but now with a lot more power and performance thanks to the most advanced and sophisticated drivetrain and suspension technology.

Ongoing success the world over – from 2004 also in the MINI Convertible.

Almost overnight, the new interpretation of this classic small car developed into a worldwide story of success continuing to this very day. The introduction of new engine variants, to mention such one significant highlight, served to offer additional momentum, the MINI Cooper S with its 120 kW/163 hp compressor engine entering the market as an exclusive driving machine in June 2002, the MINI One D just a year later setting new standards in terms of all-round economy and efficiency as the first diesel in the history of the brand.

The desire to drive a MINI in the open air, finally, also came true much faster than in the classic model, with the MINI Convertible making its debut in spring 2004. In the four years to follow, various versions of the convertible with its electrohydraulically operated soft roof were produced at the MINI Plant Oxford in the guise of the MINI Cooper S Convertible, the MINI Cooper Convertible, and the MINI One Convertible.

From the original to the original: the new edition of the MINI follows in 2006.

Showing tremendous success in the market, the MINI outperformed even the wildest expectations. Indeed, it quickly motivated the consistent continuation of this concept, taking up and fulfilling additional potentials as a new edition that continued many successful features and even made improvements to some areas.

Further enhanced in an evolutionary design process and thoroughly renewed in technical terms, this new MINI entered the market in November 2006. Following the motto “From the Original to the Original”, the design of the MINI already receiving the greatest praise everywhere was further refined in numerous details highlighting even more imperiously the sporting virtues of this compact and agile performer. So that now the looks of the car really conveyed a clear signal confirmed from the start by the driving experience.

New, even more powerful and, at the same time, far more efficient engines, together with the further enhanced suspension technology, served in this new generation to offer even greater driving pleasure so typical of MINI. Both the MINI Cooper S with its 128 kW/175 hp power unit and the 88 kW/120 hp MINI Cooper introduced from the start thrilled aficionados everywhere through their enhanced driving performance combined with significantly greater fuel economy and emission values.

Modern versatility: the MINI Clubman and the new MINI Convertible.

Almost exactly one year to the day after the launch of the new model generation, the MINI model range was further enhanced by an innovative new concept in autumn 2007. The MINI Clubman offered a reinterpretation of the traditional shooting-brake concept with a body 24 centimetres longer, a streamlined, extended roof contour and a hatchback. The wheelbase extended by eight centimetres successfully expanded legroom in the front of the car. The driver’s and passenger’s doors in the MINI Clubman were supplemented by an additional entry on the right-hand side of the car and the two wings of the Splitdoor at the rear opening to the side. The two-part rear door takes up an authentic detail from the car’s classic predecessors – the Morris Mini-Traveller and the Austin Mini Countryman – back in the 1960s.

An even more sporty design, optimised active and passive safety, a wider range of functions and the latest generation of power units extended the model range by a new edition of the MINI Convertible in 2009. The opening and closing of the car’s fabric roof was now operated by an electrohydraulic mechanism – even while on the move at speeds up to 30 km/h – all within the space of just 15 seconds. The single-part rollbar also facilitated incorporation of a large through-loading space between the luggage compartment and the passenger compartment.

Advance into the premium compact segment.

On the brand’s 50th anniversary, preparations for the advance into another vehicle class were already well on the way. And in 2010, the MINI Countryman was launched with the aim of enthusing additional target groups with the brand’s driving fun and individual style – not simply on all the world’s roads but also beyond conventional carriageways. The new model for the premium compact segment was the first MINI ever to have a length of more than four metres, five seats, four doors plus a tailgate and optional all-wheel drive. The commanding front end and imposing new headlamp contours of the MINI Countryman defined individual accents. Thanks to the hexagonal radiator grille, the short overhangs, the high shoulder line and powerful stature, this vehicle was nevertheless immediately identifiable as absolute MINI.

The reinterpretation of classic features and virtues was continued in 2013 with the MINI Paceman. Dynamically extended coupé lines, two doors and a large tailgate provided the car with an extravagant appearance. The MINI Paceman was also supplied with optional ALL4 all-wheel drive.

The latest model generation: MINI reinvents itself anew.

The beginning of 2014 heralded the latest generation change in the MINI model range. The current offering in the small-car premium segment comprised the MINI 3 Door, the MINI 5 Door also presented in 2014 and the MINI Convertible, the latest edition of which lined up at the beginning of 2016. The new model generation continued its global success story with another evolutionary development of advanced design, optimised functionality, further enhanced driving fun and a variety of innovations in the areas of control, driver assistance systems and connectivity. New three and four-cylinder engines with MINI TwinPower Turbo technology and an output range between 55 kW/75 hp and 141 kW/192 hp deliver a further optimised relation between driving fun and fuel consumption.

In the premium compact segment, the latest model generation of MINI also has two strong vehicle characters. The new edition of the MINI Clubman has mastered the leap into the higher car class with a definitively refined and mature vehicle concept. A significantly more spacious interior, four doors and five seats give the new MINI Clubman enhanced variability and allow it to meet aspirations beyond the urban traffic environment. The vehicle can also be optionally fitted with the ALL4 all-wheel power unit.

The new edition of the MINI Countryman is even more generous, more modern, more versatile and yet more sporty. The exterior length has increased by 20 centimetres compared with the predecessor model and its powerful proportions give the new allrounder a particularly independent profile. The latest generation of the ALL4 all-wheel drive can also be optionally fitted in the new MINI Countryman to provide offroad driving fun away from conventional roads. Like the MINI Clubman, a choice of six modern engines is also available for the MINI Countryman.

In addition, it paves the way for driving fun typical of the MINI brand with electric drive. The MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 is the first model of the brand with a plug-in hybrid drive. A three-cylinder petrol engine drives the front wheels and an electric motor powers the rear wheels to yield intelligently managed interaction for highly efficient driving fun with optimised traction and drive stability.

For sustainable driving fun: electromobility in the style of MINI.

The future of the MINI feeling is virtually noiseless, local zero emission, but astonishingly powerful. Starting in 2020, the new MINI Cooper SE will give the segment of electric vehicles new momentum. The 135 kW/184 hp electric motor will combine sustainable mobility with characteristic driving fun, high-impact design and premium quality.

Once again, the British brand defines pioneering benchmarks for urban mobility with the new MINI Cooper SE. 60 years ago, the revolutionary design principle of the classic Mini created the foundation for maximum interior space on a minimal footprint. The modern reinterpretation for creative use of space and unsurpassed driving fun made the MINI the original in the premium segment of small cars when it was launched in 2001. The new MINI Cooper SE now paves the way to a sustainable and yet highly emotional driving experience in urban traffic as the first premium small car powered by an all-electric drive unit.

2.   With traditional sporting spirit and british flair.
The MINI 60 years edition.

An original that constantly reinvents itself – firmly rooted in tradition yet always open to change: this is MINI, 60 years after the launch of the small British car that brought worldwide popularity to unique properties such as go-kart feeling and the creative use of space. To mark this round anniversary, the premium automobile manufacturer presents a design model that highlights both its British origins and the agile MINI character. With design and equipment features that are both high-quality and exclusive, the MINI 60 Years Edition expresses the brand's sporting spirit – something that is a constant presence even in everyday urban traffic. The special edition is supplied as a MINI 3 Door and MINI 5 Door, each with three engine variants.

Athletic talent is part and parcel of the MINI genes. Even before the launch of the classic Mini in the summer of 1959, it was clear that the design features of the new small car would benefit not just interior space but also the car's agile driving properties. Sports car designer John Cooper was an especially strong believer in the compact four-seater’s race track potential. In collaboration with Alec Issigonis, the creator of the classic Mini, he developed ideas for variants of the small car with a more powerful engine, thereby laying the foundations for an exceptional career on racing circuits and rally tracks, culminating in three outright victories at the Monte Carlo Rally in the 1960s.

With a paint finish in the classic colour of British racing cars, the MINI 60 Years Edition in particular evokes the brand’s sporty career, which it started at a very early stage and has maintained up until the recent past. The exterior paint finish in British Racing Green offers a particularly clear expression of the premium small car’s character and origins. The body finishes Midnight Black metallic, Moonwalk Grey metallic, Melting Silver metallic and MINI Yours Lapisluxury Blue non-metallic are also available as alternatives. The chosen body colour is combined with a paint finish in Pepper White or Black for the roof and exterior mirror caps. Bonnet stripes with a specific anniversary design and exclusive 17-inch light alloy wheels in the version 60 Years Spoke 2-tone round off the distinct look of the edition vehicles.

The design model's striking 60 Years logo appears not just on the left-hand bonnet stripe but also on the side scuttles of the turn indicators and on the door sill finishers at the driver and front passenger doors. Inside the car it can also be seen on the front headrests and the steering wheel. In addition, the exclusive design model has model-specific interior trim finishers. The anniversary design can also be seen in the LED logo projection which is visible when the driver's door is opened. The standard equipment of the edition vehicles includes a sports leather steering wheel along with sports seats in the leather finish MINI Yours Leather Lounge 60 Years and the exclusive colour Dark Maroon.

In conjunction with the equipment package 60 Years Trim, the edition vehicles also feature such items as LED headlights, LED fog lamps, white turn indicators and LED rear lights in Union Jack design, the lighting package for the interior and also the MINI Driving Modes and the MINI Excitement Package complete with ambient lighting. There is also an on¬board computer, automatic air conditioning, a rain sensor and a storage package on board.

Three petrol engines and two diesel engines with an output ranging from 75 kW/102 hp to 141 kW/192 hp provide the drive portfolio for the MINI 60 Years Edition. The range of anniversary models includes the MINI One 60 Years Edition 3 Door (combined fuel consumption: 5.4 – 5.0 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 123 – 114 g/km) the MINI Cooper 60 Years Edition 3 Door (combined fuel consumption: 5.3 – 5.0 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 122 – 115 g/km), and the MINI Cooper S 60 Years Edition 3 Door (combined fuel consumption: 6.4 – 6.1 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 147 – 139 g/km), and the MINI One 60 Years Edition 5 Door (combined fuel consumption: 5.4 – 5.0 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 124 – 115 g/km), the MINI Cooper 60 Years Edition 5 Door (combined fuel consumption: 5.4 – 5.1 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 122 – 115 g/km) and the MINI Cooper S 60 Years Edition 5 Door (combined fuel consumption: 6.5 – 6.2 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 149 – 141 g/km).

3.   Motor sport meets Lifestyle.
MINI and the success story of motor sport.

It is in the car’s DNA and it was obviously there right from the start: the sporting talent of the classic Mini. When Alec Issigonis was requested by British Motor Corporation (BMC) in late 1956 to develop an economical but nevertheless fully-fledged small car with four seats, it quickly became clear that this new model would be truly innovative and, indeed, revolutionary in every respect. Front-wheel drive, extremely short body overhangs, a wide track, a low centre of gravity, optimum use of space and low weight were defined right from the start as elementary features of the new model.

Looking at the first drawings of the new car by his business partner and friend Alec Issigonis, sports car wizard John Cooper noticed yet another significant quality right from the beginning: He recognised that this ingenious concept for an economical compact car also provided the ideal starting point for a most promising sports model, setting out on the process of tuning the Mini even before the car had entered the market. This set the starting point for an unprecedented story of success in motorsport, closely connecting the name John Cooper with the sporting myth of the MINI to this very day. Outstanding victories in the Monte Carlo Rally are just as much part of this common history as the successful production cars proudly bearing the name Cooper.

Now integrated within the MINI organisation, John Cooper Works represents the epitome of supreme driving pleasure based on both well-founded know-how in motorsport and successful cooperation going back years and even decades. Apart from accessories for the drivetrain, suspension, streamlining, and design, the most athletic models in the product range each bear the brand logo symbolising extreme driving fun.

Racing pioneer John Cooper teaches Mini how to win.

Born in Surrey in 1923, John Cooper was one of the most outstanding celebrities in international motorsport – both as a driver and, even more so, as a constructor. Together with his father he established the Cooper Car Company in 1946, the two enthusiasts starting out with the construction of racing cars first for Formula 3, later also for Formula 1. Through their concept of a mid-engined sports car Charles and John Cooper set a truly revolutionary trend in the entire world of motorsport in 1955, Cooper racing cars winning both the Constructor’s and Driver’s titles in the World Formula 1 Championship in 1959 and 1960, for the first time in the history of motorsport with the engine mounted in the middle. And with this concept proving its success so convincingly, it is no surprise that soon all cars in Formula 1 came with a mid-mounted engine.

John Cooper and Alec Issigonis became close friends in the course of time after meeting and competing against one another at numerous races. There were also professional ties between the two enthusiasts, with the Cooper Car Company buying engines from BMC.

When it came to the Mini, however, the sporting ambitions of the two constructors were very different: Issigonis was looking above all at the right car for everyday motoring, Cooper was thrilled by the sporting potential of this small and nimble performer. So back in 1959, the very first year of the Mini, he sent his driver Roy Salvadori to Monza in the very first Mini Cooper, a special one-off model built specifically for this purpose. And indeed, this new sports car immediately proved its qualities on the way to Monza, Salvadori covering the distance more than an hour faster than his colleague Reg Parnell – who just happened to be driving an Aston Martin DB4.

Motivated by initial success in the 1960 Monte Carlo Rally, Cooper suggested building a GT model based on the Mini. And despite Issigonis’ rather sceptical opinion at least to begin with, George Harriman, the Chief Executive Officer of BMC, ultimately decided to build a small series of 1,000 Mini Coopers featuring a 55-hp power unit, that is 21 extra horsepower made possible by far-reaching modifications of the engine. The Mini Cooper’s top speed was approximately 130 km/h or 80 mph. The car’s transmission ratios were adjusted to the sporting potential of the engine and disc brakes on the front wheels ensured adequate stopping power.

Soon Issigonis was also thrilled by the results of these efforts. So joining forces with John Cooper, he quickly started working on the next engine upgrade, increasing engine bore to the ultimate limit on the Mini Cooper S: At 1,071 cc, engine capacity remained below the mark of 1,100 cc applicable in the particular class of motorsport seen as the target, with the engine revving up to impressive speeds. Maximum output was 70 hp at 6,200 rpm, maximum engine speed was 7,200 rpm. This version was again equipped with new brakes, braking power being boosted by a brake servo.

1964–1967: the golden years in the Monte Carlo Rally.

This set the basis for sensational success in motorsport, the Mini Cooper S hitting the headlines in Monte Carlo for the first time in 1962. With Finnish driver Rauno Aaltonen at the wheel, this small but highly nimble performer successfully left behind a whole pack of far more powerful Goliaths. But just three kilometres away from home, Aaltonen, leading the race at the time, misjudged a bend and finished the Rally with a rollover. Only a year later, however, Aaltonen made up for this misfortune, bringing home class victory in the Mini Cooper S and finishing third overall. But even more – and even better – was still to come: Entering the 1963/1964 rally winter, the Mini Cooper S was simply oozing power in comparison with its predecessor. So in a spectacular race, Paddy Hopkirk brought home first place overall in the Monte Carlo Rally, the small performer becoming a legend in motor sport virtually overnight.  A year later Finnish racer Timo Mäkinen with his co-pilot Paul Easter repeated the same triumphant victory, reaching the finish line after thousands of kilometres as the only driver without one single penalty point – despite the worst weather imaginable. Indeed, only 35 out of 237 cars entered in the event were able to finish the Rally that year, among them no less than three Mini Cooper S.

The following year was the year of the hattrick, Timo Mäkinen, Rauno Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk scoring an absolutely incredible victory, finishing first, second, and third. But this was followed by bitter disappointment, the first three cars being disqualified because the rally commissioners came to the conclusion that the low beams on the Mini’s main headlights failed to comply in full with the homologation rules.

Even so, the public were completely thrilled by the three Mini drivers, despite this questionable decision, Hopkirk, Aaltonen and Mäkinen therefore entering the annals of the Monte Carlo Rally as the “Three Musketeers”. And indeed, just one year later Rauno Aaltonen received truly overwhelming applause and acknowledgement when bringing home the third overall victory of the Mini Cooper S in the Monte Carlo Rally. Especially because this time there were no complaints about his car.

Legendary racing careers started at the wheel of a Mini.

The Mini was however highly successful not only in rally racing, but also on road circuits, bringing home numerous wins in the 1960s. Indeed, through its long list of successes in motorsport, the Mini became the most outstanding racing car of the entire decade.  A particularly interesting point is that many spectacular racing careers started at the wheel of a Mini, a certain racing driver from Austria called Nikolaus Andreas Lauda entering his first hill-climb race at the wheel of a classic Mini near the Austrian town of Linz in April 1968, and immediately finishing second. Only two weeks later Lauda again confirmed his talent when scoring his first racing victory in a career which would take him on to three Formula 1 World Championships. And just like Niki Lauda, Formula 1 Champions Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, John Surtees, Jochen Rindt, and James Hunt all gained their first racing experience in a classic Mini.

Just like the car’s sporting career, sales of the Mini Cooper with its special configuration developed by John Cooper Showed an exceptional story of success from 1961–1971, the name “Cooper” becoming a synonym worldwide for passionate driving pleasure in the Mini. The fact that this tiny car had inspired the two-time Formula 1 World Champion to build outstanding sports cars was sufficient proof of the Mini and its qualities. And indeed, the unique driving experience inducing John Cooper right from the start to continue the development of the Mini all the way to perfection was equally thrilling back then for every fan of sporting automobiles.

The world’s toughest rally: MINI with four back-to-back victories in the Dakar Rally.

MINI has now become firmly established in international rally sport. Spectacular performances by the MINI John Cooper Works WRC developed on the basis of the MINI Countryman in selected rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) enabled the brand to continue its success story in rally sport during 2011 and 2012. The MINI ALL4 Racing was designed specifically for marathon rallies and this took up a further particularly special sporting challenge. In 2012, MINI and motor-sport partner X-raid entered the Dakar Rally, the ultimate endurance test for drivers, vehicles and teams. The performance and reliability of the MINI ALL4 Racing resulted in back-to-back Dakar victories in the years 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. In 2016, MINI won the category of All-wheel Drive Vehicles in this rally.

MINI also demonstrated in the FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup how one success leads to another. The first win in the World Cup 2012 was repeated in three successive years (2013 – 2015). In 2017, the new MINI John Cooper Works Rally participated for the first time in this competition and in the Dakar Rally. In 2018, it won a further title in the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup.

John Cooper Works – the epitome for extreme driving pleasure in the MINI.

John Cooper Works guarantee outstanding performance not only on the race track, but also on the road. Even back in the 1970s, John Cooper Works Tuning Kits for production versions of the Mini were very popular and even back then the classic Mini equipped with such special features and components was able to show its most outstanding virtues both visually and in technical terms. The same applies to the tuning kits for the MINI Cooper S and the MINI Cooper successfully introduced after the re-launch of the brand and available in the market under the label of John Cooper Works. The current range of John Cooper Works accessories comprises lightweight alloy wheels, ventilated brake disks, integrated tailpipes and other retrofit products for the exterior and the interior in the appropriate selection for each model.

Furthermore, the performance-oriented character of the brand is embodied by four extremely sporty MINI models. The most important common feature of the elite athletes is the power-unit and chassis engineering derived from motor sport which is combined with the aerodynamically optimised body attributes. The extreme athletes in the small-car segment, the MINI John Cooper Works and the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible, are powered by a 170 kW/231 hp four-cylinder turbo engine. A 225 kW/306 hp four-cylinder turbo power unit delivers superb performance attributes in the latest versions of the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman and the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman.

In the anniversary year, another guarantee for extreme driving fun and unalloyed motor-sport passion is on the way to the starting line. In the summer of 2019, a prototype of the new MINI John Cooper Works GP completed intensive test drives on numerous race tracks throughout the world. This vehicle will also be powered by a four-cylinder engine packing in excess of 220 kW/300 hp. Its appearance with large air scoops, an independent design for the front and rear aprons and a striking roof spoiler gives an inkling of the outstanding high-performance characteristics. During test drives round the legendary North Loop of the Nürburgring, it actually completed the lap in less than eight minutes.

4.     MINI all the way – always different.
      Customize to your personal taste.

Driving a MINI is not just a matter of getting from A to B, but rather an expression of your own personal style. And indeed, the many options to customise the MINI give the enthusiast a wide range of opportunities in bringing out his – or her – personal taste and preferences. Offering a wider range of features and highlights and going into greater detail than any other manufacturer of small and compact cars, MINI gives the customer the freedom to bring out his or her individual style and choice on the car, an exceptionally wide range of exterior and interior colours, seat upholstery and trim variants setting the foundation for a personal configuration tailored to the driver.

A further point is that all the current MINI models are available with numerous highly attractive and sophisticated options straight from the plant, again enhancing both driving pleasure and motoring comfort. The range of Original MINI Accessories offers further highlights, comprising classic motorsport technology in John Cooper Works components, comfort-oriented features such as an iPod interface, features highly practical in everyday use such as a roof rack made of ultra-strong, eloxy-plated aluminium bars, or exceptional components such as additional headlights and extravagant roof trim.

From something special to a one-off masterpiece: customisation straight from the factory.

The unusually wide range of equipment and accessory features offered on the MINI reflects the strong awareness and critical perspective of the customer in choosing such a small premium car. Opting for a MINI, the customer from the start expresses his or her sense of special values. He identifies with a car concept which, more than any other, offers pure harmony of emotional values and up-to-date qualities. The characteristic design and the unmistakable style of the brand, unparalleled driving pleasure, premium quality and modern, very efficient drive technology form a symbiosis quite unique in this segment of the market. This exceptional position of the MINI comes out even more clearly whenever each specific model stands out from the crowd through its sophisticated and stylish features. Hence, a typical MINI is not just an exceptional vehicle, but in nearly all cases a genuine one-off masterpiece.

The wide range of options in customising the car is reflected right from the start in the production process. Every MINI is built specifically to the customer’s order at the MINI Plant in Oxford or at the production partner VDL Nedcar in Born, Netherlands. Every customer is able to put together his or her MINI precisely to his or her personal wishes. All production and logistic processes are highly flexible, catering for this wide range of variants right from the start.

Considering the numerous options and items of equipment and, as a result, the almost infinite range of variants conceivable, it is extremely unlikely that two absolutely identical MINIs will leave the plant within one and the same year of production. Customisation of the classic Mini: special models for VIP customers, more power straight from the factory for all drivers.

In the days of the classic Mini, only particularly prominent or affluent customers had the option to choose similar customisation features of this calibre straight from the plant. Clearly, this small but revolutionary performer right from the start arose the fantasy of particularly trendy aficionados, actors, fashion designers, musicians and even members of the Royal Family regularly expressing their demand for customised versions of the Mini. Special paintwork and particularly sophisticated equipment features came right at the top of their list, British actor Peter Sellers, for example, placing several orders for particularly extravagant special versions of the Mini in the 1970s. And in 1988 a member of the Brunei Royal Family also asked for a Mini in Flower Power design tailored to his individual wishes and of course appropriately tuned.

In the first year of the classic Mini customers already had the choice of the Austin Seven and the Morris Mini-Minor, which however only differed in terms of their radiator grilles, their body colour and wheel caps. The Riley Elf and the Wolseley Hornet then made their appearance just two years later in 1961 as particularly stylish versions of this new compact car with minor modifications on the outside and upgraded, distinguished features inside. Plush carpets and a genuine wooden dashboard exuded a genuine feeling of luxury.

Further body versions joined the family a bit later, ranging from the Van to the Pick-Up.

The common wish for extra power was also fulfilled quickly, above all through the initiative of sports car constructor John Cooper who had already worked together closely with Alec Issigonis, the creator of the Mini, during the initial development process. The first Mini Cooper delivering 55 instead of 34 hp made its appearance in 1961, with the 70-hp Mini Cooper S entering the market another two years later. The Mini with automatic transmission likewise appeared at a relatively early point in 1965, taking on a leading role in terms of motoring comfort – especially as up to that time only cars higher up in the market, that is in completely different segments, had offered the option of an automatic transmission.

Very sporting, young and trendy, or unusually distinguished – in the mid-70s fans of the Mini had the opportunity for the first time to highlight particular characteristics of the classic Mini through carefully configured edition models. The first of these special models was the progressively designed Mini Limited Edition 1000 in 1976, with further variants taking up the trend to growing customisation time and again. In many cases these special cars were named after well-known parts of London or famous streets, such as Piccadilly, Chelsea, Knightsbridge or Park Lane.

In 1982 the Mini Mayfair conquered the streets for the first time as a particularly exclusive, top-end model. And following the re-launch of the brand in 2001, special versions of this small but dynamic performer attracted great attention time and again, the MINI Seven bringing back a traditional model designation well-known from the original Mini, the MINI Checkmate highlighting above all the sporting characteristics of this agile athlete.

Paintwork, roof trim, interior materials: typical MINI style with maximum diversity.

The sheer diversity of the current model range as well as a wide choice of options in combining standard and special features in the current MINI generation provide a degree of customisation setting the benchmark even today in the modern world of motoring. Apart from the different engine variants, the wide choice of body paintwork colours, roof trim and soft top options, wheels and seat upholstery, interior materials and trim elements offer even the most discerning customer everything he or she desires to turn the relevant car into his or her very personal one-off masterpiece. The specific equipment packages for each model permit personal individualisation. They incorporate selective facets inherent in the character of each model so that they are particularly clearly highlighted on the exterior of the vehicle and in the interior – for example sporting prowess, elegance or robustness. Additional features include stripes for the engine bonnet and mirror caps in different colours and patterns, the options of Chrome Line and Piano Black for the exterior and a lighting package, a roof liner coloured in anthracite and the Chrome Line for the interior.

The accessories range also includes a choice of additional exterior mirror caps, side direction indicator surrounds, wheel-valve caps and door handles in different designs, a tank cap in chrome, sport stripes, bonnet stripes and special MINI stickers for affixing to the doors. And last but not least, the line-up of individual light-alloy wheels rims available for specific models is once again expanded by a number of options included in the range of accessories.

The performance components from John Cooper Works are perfectly tailored to the characteristics and style of MINI. The parts are available as accessories and they proudly reveal the long track record of experience and glorious tradition of both brands in motor sport. The highlights include John Cooper Works light-alloy wheels, ventilated brake discs, bumper trims, spoiler attachments, integrated tailpipes, exterior mirror caps and side scuttles. Matching decor trims, hand-brake lever, sports gearshift lever, interior mirror caps and foot mats create an even more sporting ambience in the interior.

Individualisation at the highest level: MINI Yours.

The options from the MINI Yours range pave the way for the most exclusive route to selective individualisation. High-quality materials, stylish design and precise processing to the very highest standards characterise these factory-supplied items of special equipment for the exterior and interior of current MINI models. They are unique individual options and are available in equipment packages put together specifically for each model.

The items of special equipment from MINI Yours are especially ideal for defining clear accents expressing exclusivity and stylish image when creating an individual vehicle design. All the packages reflect the British origin and the premium character of the brand. The outstanding level of material selection and the quality of craftsmanship meld together to create design infused with a sense of heritage and creativity, forging highlights in the appearance of the vehicle. The MINI Yours emblem defines yet another additional inimitable accent. The production of MINI Yours options is carried out in special production processes inspired by classic artisan craftsmanship.

The current MINI Yours range for individualising the exterior comprises exceptionally sophisticated paintwork options and impactful, athletic, elegant light-alloy wheel rims in a model-specific selection. The MINI Convertible also features a MINI Yours roof with a woven Union Jack. Personal style and a connoisseur’s sense of superlative quality are achieved with the MINI Yours packages for the interior. The MINI Yours Leather Lounge sport seats are upholstered and handcrafted in luxury smooth leather. Perforation technology integrates the classic Union Jack motif in the headrests. The MINI Yours Interior Styles are tailored to match specific models and comprise backlit surfaces, with light spots varying the colour to suit the ambient light conditions. Visible and tangible exclusivity also characterise the MINI Yours sports leather steering wheel finished in luxury soft nappa leather, the anthracite seams and spokes in high-gloss Piano Black.

MINI Yours Customised: From original to personalised custom special.

The MINI Yours Customised range gives customers the opportunity to style selected retrofit products with a design they have selected themselves and transform their own vehicle into a personalised customer special. The innovative package has been supplied for numerous MINI models in Europe and other major markets since 2018. The product range of MINI Yours Customised comprises the familiar side scuttles for the side indicators, decor trims for the interior on the passenger side, LED entry sills and LED door projectors.

The retrofit parts supplied in the product range of MINI Yours Customised can be selected, styled and ordered by customers in an Online Shop dedicated to the new range. The individualised products are subsequently manufactured using innovative production procedures such as various 3D printing processes and laser inscription. The advanced production processes permit precise implementation of customers’ wishes. The individually styled products are supplied within a few weeks. They are designed so they can then be integrated in the vehicle by customers themselves or by participating MINI service partners. 

5.  Traditional values and modern diversity.
Concept and technology.

The economical compact car has a great future! Precisely this was the fundamental idea and philosophy in developing the classic Mini. The objective was to combine compact exterior dimensions and generous spaciousness within the interior, comfortable and sporting driving behaviour as well as fuel-efficient power units likewise characterising the new extra-small model from British Motor Corporation (BMC). It was the Suez Crisis in 1956 leading to severe cut-backs in oil supply that prompted BMC to assign automotive engineer and constructor Alec Issigonis with this challenging task. Today, on the other hand, the quest for efficiency has become a general need in public life, this compact car from Great Britain again offering the most convincing answer to this challenge. 60 years ago, the revolutionary design principle of the classic Mini created the foundation for maximum interior space on a minimal footprint. The modern reinterpretation for creative use of space and unsurpassed driving fun made the MINI the original in the premium segment of small cars when it was launched in 2001. Today, the MINI brand is the epitome of scintillating driving in the urban traffic environment and beyond. In future, the brand will combine electromobility and a unique emotional experience with the new MINI Cooper SE. It is based on the MINI 3 Door and combines local zero-emission driving with premium quality and striking design.

The classic Mini: an ingenious concept for efficient use of space, outstanding safety on the road, and supreme economy.

Engineering qualities of the highest calibre already served on the classic Mini to provide truly outstanding and technically superior solutions. The first point is that Alec Issigonis opted for a front-wheel-drive concept with the engine fitted crosswise at the front. This principle, now well-established as the standard solution for compact cars, was admittedly not completely new at the time, but had never before been used so consistently to promote driving behaviour and the efficient use of space as it was in the classic Mini. The specific arrangement of the ten-inch wheels right at the corners of the car likewise served to promote both driving behaviour and the efficient use of space. Wheelbase measured 2.03 metres or 79.9", overall length was 3.05 metres or 120.0", width measured 1.41 metres or 55.5", and the height of the classic Mini was 1.35 metres or 53.1". And the most important point was that 80 per cent of the space occupied by the car – its “footprint” on the road, as it were – was just for the passengers and their luggage.

The body-in-white of the classic Mini weighed a mere 140 kg or 309 lb. But at the same time the bodyshell offered a standard of torsional stiffness quite exceptional back then – stiffness ensured by the two sills extending from front to rear, a lightweight tunnel in the middle of the car taking up the exhaust system, and the wheel arches.

Extending crosswise from left to right, the robust bulkhead between the engine compartment and the passenger cell, a strong crossbar beneath the front seats, and the rear bulkhead leading to the luggage compartment all contributed to this torsional stiffness. With this kind of stability and stiffness built in from the start, Alec Issigonis and his team of engineers were able to give the classic Mini slender roof pillars and large windows around the passenger cell, helping to enhance both all-round visibility and the feeling of space. The decision which engine to use in this new small car was no problem, with BMC opting for an updated version of the Series A power unit already featured in the legendary Morris Minor.

This four-cylinder came with a crankshaft running in three bearings, overhead valves operated via tappets and a camshaft at the bottom running on the same side as the intake and exhaust ducts. The fuel/air mixture was supplied by semi-downdraught carburettors, with an electric fuel supply pump being fitted right from the start. Issigonis and his team therefore reduced engine capacity to 848 cc and cut back engine output to 34 hp at 5,500 rpm. Indeed, this kind of engine speed alone was quite unusual at the time, with only thoroughbred sports cars achieving continuous engine speed of this standard back in the late ‘50s. Yet a further innovation was the arrangement of the four-speed manual gearbox beneath the engine and directly between the wheels, giving the engine and transmission a shared oil circuit. This left enough space beneath the bonnet for the radiator at the side as well as the steering and ancillary units.

The birth of that go-kart experience.

Issigonis and his team also took a new approach in the transmission of power, that is on the drivetrain. Since the propeller shafts used up to that time tended to deflect out of line under major steering lock, Issigonis decided to use homokinetic joints for the first time in an automobile. These joints were made up of a ball bearing surrounded by three cages, two of which were connected, respectively, with the incoming and outgoing drive shafts. This, in turn, allowed a sufficient steering angle without distortion or undue articulation, significantly reducing the effect of drive forces on the steering. And this, in turn, set the foundation for the go-kart feeling of the legendary Mini to this very day.

To reduce the forces acting on the light and compact monocoque steel bodyshell, the engineers mounted the entire drivetrain, steering and suspension on a subframe. The independent wheels at the rear were also mounted on a subframe, giving the classic Mini absolutely excellent directional stability. The other components on the suspension likewise came with a wide range of technical highlights, Issigonis replacing the usual coil, torsion or leaf springs by rubber suspension. To be specific, this was a structure made up of two cones with a layer of rubber in between. The upper cone was bolted firmly to a subframe, the lower rested on the wheel mount. With rubber becoming increasingly hard under increasing pressure, this gave the classic Mini a progressive suspension set-up. Indeed, the properties of this spring system were so good that small telescopic dampers proved to be quite sufficient. And to give the dampers a smooth and fine response, they were fastened outside on upper wishbones at the front and longitudinal control arms at the rear.

Extra comfort: Hydrolastic suspension and automatic transmission.

In 1964 Issigonis placed the emphasis on greater comfort and motoring refinement, introducing an early type of self-levelling on the Mini. To be specific, this was the new Hydrolastic suspension carried over from BMC’s larger saloons and modified for the small car segment. This unique suspension came with cylinders roughly the size of a one-litre oil can on each wheel comprising the springs and dampers and using a frost-resistant water emulsion as the damper fluid. On the Hydrolastic system the hydraulic chambers on the front and rear wheel dampers were connected to one another by pressure hoses on each side of the car. So whenever the front wheel ran over a bump on the road, some of the hydraulic fluid was pressed into the “partner” chamber on the rear axle, lifting up the body slightly also at the rear (and, of course, also in the opposite direction).

While this innovative system provided the basic configuration for consistent self-levelling of the car’s body, it never became a lasting success and was taken out of production after seven years. Issigonis and his team followed the example of larger cars in upmarket segments also in other areas, seeking quite often to achieve an even higher standard in the Mini. A good example is the automatic transmission introduced as an option in 1965 and making the classic Mini one of only very few small cars available at the time with such a “luxury”. An even more significant factor was that the automatic transmission taking up hardly any more space than a conventional manual gearbox came with four forward gears, while most luxury cars at the time had only three gears.

Sales of the classic Mini exceeded the figure of one million units just six years after the car had made its debut. By this time the range comprised not only the two original models, the Morris Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven, but also a Mini Van, a Mini Pick-Up as well as the Morris Mini-Traveller and Austin Seven Countryman estate models serving consistently to offer even more space inside the car: While the Traveller and Countryman were only 25 centimetres or not quite 10" longer than their respective counterparts, they were unusually versatile transporters thanks to their wheelbase extended by 10 centimetres or 3.9" and their twin doors at the rear.

Small engine, significant potential for further development.

John Cooper, the sports car constructor who recognised the great potential of this revolutionary small car very early on, is the man we must thank for giving the engine of the Mini originally cut back intentionally to 34 hp a lot more power just two years after the car made its debut. Engine capacity of the GT model built in a small series at Cooper’s initiative was increased to 997 cc, with stroke up from 68.3 to 81.3 millimetres (2.69–3.20") and bore down from 62.9 to 62.4 millimetres (2.48–2.46"). The compression ratio was raised from 8.3 to 9.0, further features being the larger intake valves and dual carburettors.

The exhaust opening was likewise enlarged and the crankcase reinforced to take up the extra power of the engine.

Cooper also changed the transmission ratio of the individual gears in order to give the car a higher speed in each gear, the first Mini Cooper with its 55 hp power unit now reaching a top speed of 136 km/h or 84 mph as opposed to the “regular” 120 km/h or 75 mph. And being a conscientious man, Cooper also upgraded the car’s brakes, fitting seven-inch Lockheed disc brakes on the front wheels.

The Mini Cooper S introduced in 1963 soon proved that even with these modifications the four-cylinder had not yet reached its limit. This time engine capacity was increased to 1,071 cc, providing maximum output of 70 hp. Naturally, this extra power also meant higher speed, in this case with an increase to 160 km/h or 99 mph, which is why Cooper once again upgraded the brakes, increasing disc diameter to 7.5" and boosting the brake power of the Mini Cooper S by means of a brake servo.

The series version of the classic Mini was also upgraded for more power in 1967, an increase in capacity to 998 cc giving the engine an appropriate boost in maximum torque from 44 to 52 newton-metres (32–38 lb-ft) and an increase in maximum output by 4 hp to 38 horsepower. This version of the four-cylinder was introduced from the start on the sister model of the classic Mini launched in 1969, the new Clubman, as the car was called, being 11 cm or 4.3" longer and the Estate version measuring exactly 3.40 metres or 133.9" in length. Width, height and wheelbase, on the other hand, were exactly the same as on the classic Mini.

A further new model introduced at the time as the successor to the Mini Cooper was the Mini 1275 GT, the top model in the Clubman series powered by a 59-hp 1.3-litre four-cylinder. This engine was later also featured in the classic Mini and was soon upgraded to an even more significant 63 hp. The 1.0-litre nevertheless remained in the range until 1992, after which all models were equipped with the 1.3-litre fuel injection engine already featured since October 1991 in the Mini Cooper and as of August 1994 also in the Mini, above all due to growing requirements in emission management.

Making a new start with traditional values.

Considered simply on paper, the MINI Cooper and the MINI One bringing back the famous brand in 2001 had hardly any substantial features in common with the classic Mini. Much stricter safety standards, significantly greater demands in terms of motoring comfort, and brand-new technical potentials allowed and required solutions Alec Issigonis and his team would not even have dreamt of in their days.

The MINI and its forefather nevertheless share some fundamental highlights and features clearly borne out from the start in the new model and expressed by the car’s characteristic design. A further point is that the MINI was developed from the start as a revolutionary new small car. And like the classic Mini, the new model once again featured innovations in technology giving the MINI its unique qualities.

Re-interpretation of traditional values likewise gave the MINI its unmistakable character right from the start, building its status as a youthful car transcending all social classes and highly desirable the world over. The classic Mini in its day made a significant contribution in introducing the principle of front-wheel drive and the power unit fitted crosswise at the front, making this the standard solution for particularly compact cars. The MINI, in turn, likewise came with short body overhangs, a long wheelbase, the one-wheel-at-each-corner stance and a low centre of gravity as ideal ingredients for extremely agile handling. Once again, therefore, the MINI re-defined the standard of optimum efficiency in the use of space and maximum driving pleasure in such a small car.

The quantum leap into a new era of technology.

Implementing this concept, it was obviously essential to use the most advanced and sophisticated technology. And clearly, four-cylinder power units displacing 1.6 litres, with 16 valves and an aluminium cylinder head were exactly the right successors to the Series A engines originally featured in the classic Mini.

Where 34 hp was still sufficient in 1959, the right kind of power was now 66 kW/90 hp in the MINI One and 85 kW/115 hp in the MINI Cooper. And while the classic Mini with its homokinetic joints for conveying power to the wheels and rubber springs set new standards in suspension technology at its time, the MINI with its McPherson front axle featuring axle shafts equal in length and the multi-arm rear axle likewise absolutely unique in this segment also introduced a new benchmark.

Disc brakes on all four wheels, the anti-lock brake system including CBC Cornering Brake Control and EBD Electronic Brake Force Distribution featured as standard also marked this quantum leap into a new era. As an option the MINI was also available from the start with ASC+T Traction Control and DSC Dynamic Stability Control.

The MINI also took on the top position in its segment right from the beginning in terms of passive safety. Indeed, with its extremely stable passenger cell, frontal and side airbags as well as optional head airbags at the side, the level of safety provided was absolutely outstanding. And last but not least, the Tyre Defect Indicator likewise featured as standard was an innovation never seen before in
a small and compact car. As an alternative to its five-speed manual gearbox, the MINI was available with infinite CVT automatic transmission incorporating a Steptronic function. Using a steel drive belt running on dual-conical pulleys, this transmission fed engine power through continuously variable transmission ratios to the front wheels, while retaining six firm transmission ratios in the Steptronic mode.

A joint control unit for the engine and transmissions served both in the automatic and the Steptronic mode to give the driver the ideal transmission ratio under all conditions. As an option there were also Steptronic switches on the steering wheel enabling the driver to shift gears manually without taking his hands off the steering wheel.

It did not take MINI long – to be precise only until January 2002 – to move up to an even higher level of driving pleasure, the most powerful model in the range ensuring fascinating performance even faster than with the classic Mini and far superior to its 70-hp forerunner.

This new high-performance model was the MINI Cooper S powered by a 120 kW/163 hp four-cylinder compressor engine and featuring both a sports suspension and a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. The first-ever MINI powered by a diesel engine saw the light of day just one year later, the MINI One D providing the most advanced rendition of the highly efficient four-seater philosophy which originally led to the development of the classic Mini: Displacing 1.4 litres out of four cylinders, this all-aluminium power unit featuring common rail fuel injection and an exhaust gas turbocharger offered an ample
55 kW/75 hp.

The new edition of the MINI: From the original to the original.

The modern qualities of the world’s first premium small car were emphasised even more emphatically when the new edition of the MINI was launched in November 2006. Under the motto “From the original to the original”, numerous details shaping the visual appearance of the MINI were refined. The sporting virtues of the compact king of curves were a particular focus with even more intense highlighting. At the same time, protection for the occupants was further optimised.

New, even more powerful and, at the same time, far more efficient engines together with the further enhanced suspension technology, served to redefine driving fun so typical of MINI. The MINI Cooper S with its 124 kW/175 hp power unit and the 88 kW/120 hp MINI Cooper models available at market launch from the start thrilled aficionados everywhere through their enhanced driving performance combined with significantly greater fuel economy and emission values. Both engines had a capacity of 1.6 litres, and a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct petrol injection were responsible for delivering the high output of the MINI Cooper S. The power unit of the MINI Cooper was fitted with fully variable valve control. Later on, this was also installed in the 1.4 litre engine generating 70 kW/95 hp mounted in the MINI One. Turbocharging and common rail direct injection generated outstanding efficiency in the diesel engines. The MINI Cooper D powered by 82 kW/112 hp was followed in rapid succession by the MINI One D generating 66 kW/90 hp and the MINI Cooper SD with 105 kW/143 hp. Finally, the MINI One powered by a 55 kW/75 hp engine was added to the range as an entry-level model. The mantle of elite athlete was taken on for the first time by the MINI John Cooper Works with a turbo engine packing 155 kW/211 hp and specific suspension technology.

In an appropriate combination on each model, the technologies offered as standard included Brake Energy Recovery, Auto Start/Stop, a gearshift point indicator, Electric Power Steering, a volume-flow-controlled oil pump, as well as on-demand coolant pump. All variants of the MINI now come as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, with optional six-speed automatic transmission enabling the driver to shift gears manually via paddles on the steering wheel.

The large choice in the engine portfolio was soon augmented by exceptional diversity in the MINI model range. Almost exactly one year to the day after the launch of the new model generation, the range was expanded by the MINI Clubman with a wheelbase extended by eight centimetres and a two-part rear door. In 2009, a new generation of the MINI Convertible came along. And as if this wasn’t enough, both the two-seaters MINI Coupé and MINI Roadster enabled the athletic prowess typical of the brand and open-top pleasure to be experienced in a particularly purist way from 2011 onwards. In parallel, the MINI Countryman presented in 2010 and the MINI Paceman available from 2013 conquered the premium compact segment. The ALL4 all-wheel drive developed specially for MINI was installed in these two models for the first time. The system is based on an electromagnetic centre differential and this enabled the power to be variably distributed between the front and rear axles.

The latest generation: Even more driving fun, efficiency and premium quality.

In 2014, the current generation of the MINI lined up at the start with a renewed evolutionary and advanced design, new drive technology and a large number of innovative equipment features. Engines with MINI TwinPower turbo technology and also a newly developed gearbox have since then increased the sprint capability of the MINI while at the same time resulting in reduced fuel consumption. Depending on the engine, the standard 6-speed gearbox can be replaced by a 7-speed Steptronic gearbox with twin clutch or an 8-speed Steptronic gearbox. An additional enhancement to efficiency is provided by the optimised weight and the improved aerodynamic characteristics. The option of an adaptive suspension is available for the first time. MINI Driving Modes is a choice available for the first time in the new MINI. Adaptive suspension influences the characteristic curves for the accelerator pedal and steering characteristics as well as the shifting characteristics of the automatic transmission and the damper tuning. The new operating concept comprises an instrument cluster on the steering column and optionally a MINI head-up display. The collision and pedestrian warning with city braking function, the driving assistant and parking assistant, and the reversing camera significantly expand the choice of driver assistance systems. Once again, the MINI also takes a leading role among competitors in the area of networking technology and digital services.

Already in the subsequent year, the model range was again expanded by a completely new body version for the MINI. For the first time, the British brand has a five-door version in the segment of small cars. With its wheelbase extended by 72 millimetres, the MINI 5 Door offers passengers in the front significantly more legroom alongside comfortable entry and exit. Since 2016, the range in the small-car segment has been completed by the new MINI Convertible.

The open-top four-seater is now equipped with an all-electric opening and closing mechanism for the fabric roof. An extremely athletic model version was also developed for the classic bodywork variant of the MINI 3 Door and for the MINI Convertible. The MINI John Cooper Works and the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible are each powered by a new, 170 kW/231 hp turbo engine.

The new MINI generation is represented by two models in the premium compact segment. A choice of three petrol and three diesel engines is supplied for the new MINI Countryman. The advanced ALL4 all-wheel drive system is also available as an option. Series equipment includes power transmission to all four wheels in the elite athletes MINI John Cooper Works Clubman and MINI John Cooper Works Countryman, which are powered by a 225 kW/306 hp turbo engine in the latest version. Furthermore, the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 (combined fuel consumption: 2.1 – 1.9 l/100 km; combined electricity consumption: 13.9 – 13.5 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 47 – 43 g/km) paves the way for zero-emission driving fun. The first plug-in hybrid model from MINI is powered by a three-cylinder petrol engine and an electric engine which together generate a combined system output of 165 kW/224 hp.

Electromobility in the MINI style: The new MINI Cooper SE.

 The MINI brand has now been the epitome of scintillating mobility in the urban traffic environment for the past 60 years. In future, the brand will incorporate local zero-emission driving in urban traffic with a unique emotional experience. The new MINI Cooper SE (combined power consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined electricity consumption: 16.8 – 14.8 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) will be manufactured in series production at the British plant in Oxford from November 2019. This is the brand’s first all-electric powered model and it is a genuine MINI through and through. The vehicle concept is based on the MINI 3 Door. The dimensions, design, available space and interior ambience of the new MINI Cooper SE are clearly derived from the conventionally powered vehicle. The expansion of the model range by an all-electric version was already reflected in the development of this vehicle.

Instead of a petrol or diesel engine, an electric motor is mounted under the bonnet of the new MINI Cooper SE. The spontaneous power development of the 135 kW/184 hp electric motor, the front-wheel drive typical of the brand and innovative Dynamic Stability Control with actuator-related wheel-slip limitation assist the new MINI Cooper SE in achieving the unmistakeable agility known as the go-kart feeling that is perceived here as a particularly intense experience. The motor’s model-specific lithium-ion battery permits a range of 235 to 270 kilometres. The high-voltage battery is configured low in the vehicle floor so that there are no restrictions on the volume of the baggage compartment compared with a conventionally powered MINI 3 Door.

6.   From the Original to the Original.
The MINI Design.

Innovativ, Innovative, unmistakable, stylish – and inspiring time and again. Just like the classic Mini, the MINI stands for unique design providing brand-new answers to the challenges of its time. Creating the classic Mini, constructor Alec Issigonis and his team had succeeded in re-defining the entire philosophy of the small and compact car in 1959. Developing the MINI, his successors, as it were, re-interpreted the concept of maximum interior space on minimum road surface in modern, up-to-date style.

The result, created almost four decades apart, was two cars of supreme character proudly presenting their unique qualities in a truly unmistakable manner. Both back then and today, thrilling driving characteristics and irresistible design create one complete unit as the sign of distinction of an entire brand. The starting point for the design of the classic Mini was a vision following clear targets: smaller than all models produced so far by British Motor Corporation, the new car was still to provide sufficient space for four occupants and their luggage. Clearly, therefore, Issigonis focused on economy of space as the fundamental consideration in the development process.

At the same time, he wished to offer an innovative answer to the small and compact cars already available on the market in Europe, following his principle that a good designer should never ever copy the competition.

A clear vision and the right concept: the foundation for the classic Mini.

To provide as much space as possible for the occupants on the car’s very small footprint, even the technical features and components of the classic Mini had to be moved together. The ideal concept making this possible from the start was of course the engine fitted at the front in conjunction with front-wheel drive. But that alone was not enough for Issigonis. For while there was enough space for a four-cylinder power unit beneath the short bonnet, this was only because Issigonis fitted the engine crosswise and placed the gearbox beneath the drive unit. Certainly, an innovative interpretation of the “form follows function” principle is still one of the decisive factors in the design of the MINI to this very day.

Issigonis set forth all these plans and configurations not in long documents and studies, but rather in a host of drawings and personal sketches. Indeed, he had already succeeded in compensating for his rather limited ambition for mathematics at school and university through his excellent drawings. And now these drawings became the characteristic trademark of this ingenious engineer and constructor.

With just a few strokes of his pencil he was able to create visions, illustrate solutions for complicated technical problems, and therefore develop greater power of conviction than even the most moving speaker in a detailed technical lecture. Issigonis’ almost contagious euphoria was also expressed by the fact that he often did his drawing on paper table-cloths or menu cards, because his notepad was already full.

One of the legends circulating around the classic Mini is the story of a design sketch done by Issigonis on the paper napkin of a hotel restaurant later used for the first “official” draft on the drawing board in Issigonis’ construction office. In the course of 1958 both the exterior and the interior of the Mini took on their final shape. Striking features later to become characteristic of the classic Mini were the body panel seams between the wings and the bodyshell facing to the outside.

The reason for this particular feature was quite simply money: welding seams facing to the outside were a lot cheaper in production. The second feature typical of cost-oriented production also clearly visible from outside was the door hinges on the outside of the doors themselves. And the driver who was not able to make do with the luggage compartment offering capacity of 195 litres or 6.8 cubic feet, was able to quite simply leave the boot lid open – since the lid was hinged at the bottom, it served conveniently as a “tray” even taking up bulky objects fastened more or less safely in position. Indeed, this was not even a secret tip, since high-gloss brochures presented this enlarged loading capacity in colourful pictures.

The interior naturally also followed the car’s minimalist philosophy: A simple cable served to open the doors and the usual dashboard in front of the driver and passenger was replaced in the classic Mini by a small shelf. Right in the middle was the centre instrument, the speedometer and mileage counter as well as the fuel gauge, with two toggle switches for the screen wipers and the lights right below.

Despite numerous detailed changes and modifications, the basic shape of the classic Mini remained unchanged for no less than 41 years. In the course of time this revolutionary small car became a classic in the history of the automobile, a timeless masterpiece chosen in 1995 by the readers of Autocar, the British car magazine, as the “Car of the Century”. Like its driving behaviour, the typical look of the classic Mini remained a perfect image of the car’s character over years and decades, ultimately providing the starting point for the design of the modern MINI.

Creating the MINI: brand-new, but with unmistakable roots.

Back in the mid-1990s, shortly after BMW had taken over Rover Group, the first plans were considered for a new version of this unique compact car. A study of the MINI Cooper was the presented at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show, making it quite clear from now on that this was not going to be merely a copy of the classic model, but rather a modern interpretation of the Mini concept so rich in tradition. Indeed, this concept car combined the classic values of the classic Mini with the demands made of a modern automobile on the threshold to the 21st century.

A spectacular sports car concept had already been presented at the beginning of the year on the occasion of the Monte Carlo Rally. Thirty years after the classic Mini had won the Monte Carlo Rally the last time, this two-seater, right-hand-drive mid-engined ACV 30 (Anniversary Concept Vehicle) study definitely hit the headlines not just on account of its truly powerful and muscular proportions. Rather, the study also made it quite clear how the design features so characteristic of the classic Mini – such as the hexagon radiator grille and the large round headlights – could be carried over into a modern vehicle concept.

So the question is obvious: What would the ideal small car look like when carrying forward the ideas and principles of Sir Alec Issigonis, that ingenious constructor, from the 1950s into the 21st century, with all the technical options and customer preferences of these modern times? Looking for an answer to this question was certainly a promising undertaking right from the start, particularly as neither the drive concept of the classic Mini nor its virtually unchanged look had lost any of their charm over a period of approximately four decades.

Precisely this is why the MINI Project Team run originally by Frank Stephenson and later by MINI Chief Design Gert Volker Hildebrand attached great significance to conveying not only design details, but also the fundamental idea from the early years of the classic Mini to these modern days of motoring. The MINI was also to be a unique car offering ample space for four with their luggage, featuring an economical drive concept, and boasting driving and handling qualities no other model in this segment was able to offer.

At the same time the development engineers naturally also considered the high standard of comfort now taken for granted as well as the most demanding safety requirements. The result, obviously, was once again a revolutionary new small car oriented in every respect to the needs of its times and at the same time developed and manufactured according to the quality standards of a leading premium brand.

Design features and design icons.

This harmony of the targets set by the development engineers and the fundamental values of the concept is reflected in a unique design authentically visualising the common character shared by the classic Mini and the MINI and borne out by a beautiful play on lines and joints, circles and ellipsoids.

With the car measuring 3.63 metres or 142.9" in length, the overall layout and proportions, including short overhangs front and rear expressing the agile handling of the MINI through its exterior, were all retained as a faithful rendition of the classic Mini. The classic subdivision of the car into three sections – the actual body, the window graphics surrounding the entire vehicle as a kind of band, and the roof seeming to hover in space – was taken up again in a modern rendition. The shoulder line extends from the headlights across the muscular shoulders all the way to the C-pillars, where the roof is closer to the body than upfront on the A-pillars. This creates side window graphics opening up to the front and clearly emphasising the forward-pushing motion and the sportiness of the car.

Features typical of the brand and already unmistakable on the classic Mini were also re-interpreted on the new model. As an example, a modern rendition of the hexagon radiator grille and the round headlights now no longer surrounded by the wings, but rather integrated in the engine compartment lid, help to give the MINI its typical face so characteristic of the brand.

The side direction indicator surrounds serving on the MINI to distinguish the individual model variants, are also acknowledged as genuine icons in design. In particular, the side indicators guide the eyes of the beholder to the joint on the engine compartment lid of the MINI sweeping back at an angle like the joint on the side panels of the classic Mini. The rear light clusters standing upright also serve once again as a powerful sign of distinction now featuring a sophisticated chrome frame on the MINI. Indeed, this is once again a clear reminiscence to the classic Mini which always boasted its chrome look, consistently rejecting the inundation of plastic in automobile design of the ’70 and ’80s.

Last but not least, the very concave, three-dimensional and powerful design of the rims again takes up and reflects the style of the classic Mini, even if the wheels are now larger, wider, and come on runflat tyres.

The interior of the MINI is likewise unmistakable in its design, the Centre Speedo in the middle of the dashboard bringing back a characteristic feature of the classic Mini and enhancing this look to create a truly unique design element. Up to 1968 the speedometer on the classic Mini was also a central instrument which, through its looks alone, provided decisive inspiration for designing the surrounds on the MINI’s control units and switches.

Further, unique highlights come from the round air vents and the elliptic main elements on the door linings reflecting the design language of “circular elements” so typical of the MINI and also to be admired on the exterior. More than ever before, the current fortes of the MINI come out on the design of the latest model generation introduced in the autumn of 2013. Again following the philosophy of “From the Original to the Original”, both the basic design and the unique details of the car were revised and upgraded in the second generation in a painstaking, evolutionary process.

The powerful stance of the car on its big and muscular wheels now emphasises the sporting character of the MINI even more convincingly. The Centre Speedo is even larger than before even, now framed by a lighting band, and offers space for the display of a navigation system, again providing those unmistakable highlights so typical of the brand. Like the classic Mini, the MINI, thanks to its harmonious and perfectly balanced overall concept, arouses a feeling of affection and almost love at very first sight. To a large extent this is attributable to the cleverly integrated codes of “human body archetype” design language: Through its proportions and friendly mimicry, the MINI arouses the protector’s instincts. The powerful shoulders of the car, in turn, exude a sense of safety and security, and the body itself is characterised through its softly flowing shapes.

New opportunities: the MINI Concept.

Through its design philosophy alone, the MINI allows up-to-date, ongoing development of all features so typical of the brand while retaining its own, unique character. This starting point also provides a wonderful opportunity to carry over the design language so typical of MINI to innovative vehicle concepts extending the range and wealth of the MINI model family. The idea to present MINI in a new context was demonstrated for the first time in a fascinating study in 2005, when the MINI Concept made its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Presenting this unique study, MINI paved the way to a brand-new category of cars re-interpreting the classic shooting brake concept in modern style. The MINI Concept therefore took up traditional design philosophies already borne out in the 1960s in the guise of the Morris Mini-Traveller and the Austin Mini Countryman, applying these philosophies to modern-day requirements and therefore presenting new options in the body design and functionality of the MINI. Following the motto “Travel the World”, the MINI Concept was presented in a total of four renditions, each highlighting specific facets of the MINI brand and focusing on the place where the cars were being presented: In Frankfurt the emphasis was on elegance, at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show the concept model highlighted the British origins of MINI. At the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit the emphasis was on wintersport, and at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show the MINI Concept paid tribute to the legendary success of the brand in motorsport.

In all cases the concept car boasted a truly innovative door arrangement revolutionising the use of and access to the car’s interior: At the rear the designers introduced a Splitdoor configuration based on the classic door arrangement of the Morris Mini-Traveller and the Austin Mini Countryman. This two-piece rear door with each door element hinged far to the outside and opening outwards offered particularly generous access to the luggage compartment of the MINI Concept – a principle shortly thereafter presented for the first time in a production version of the MINI.

The MINI family grows: introduction of the MINI Clubman.

The 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show marked the world debut of the MINI Clubman which has been enriching the model family ever since. Compared directly with the MINI, the MINI Clubman offers 24 centimetres or 9.45" more body length and 8 centimetres or 3.15" longer wheelbase serving entirely to enhance legroom at the rear.

On the MINI Clubman the driver’s and front passenger’s doors are supplemented not just by the Splitdoor at the rear, but also by an additional opening on the right side of the car. This additional door on the right, the Clubdoor opening against the direction of travel like a coach door, offers passengers sitting on the rear seats of the MINI Clubman comfortable and convenient access to the rear passenger area. In its side view the MINI Clubman is characterised by a dynamic wedge shape created through the interplay of the shoulder line rising up slightly to the rear and the horizontal roofline.

Up the A-pillars, the MINI Clubman is identical to the “regular” MINI. It then gains its unique look through its longer wheelbase and longer roofline extending straight back to the steep rear end.

Yet a further special feature is the slight increase in the roof flanks extending on both sides from the A- all the way to the C-pillars along the entire length of the roof and referred to as the Dune Line. This gives the roofline a truly exciting, eye-catching “sweep” and raises the height of the car’s flank by approximately two centimetres. As a result, the proportions of the MINI Clubman are particularly smooth and well-balanced also from the side.

Like the classic Mini, the MINI is also available with contrasting colours on the roof – and indeed, this particular sign of distinction is of great significance on the MINI Clubman, where, apart from the roof, the C-pillars also come in the contrasting colour ordered by the customer to give the Splitdoor at the rear an additional optical effect. Ultimately this gives the car a very compact look at the rear and adds to its individual, unique appearance on the road.

MINI Convertible: consistently open, MINI all the way.

The open-air model of the brand is a genuine MINI but at the same time a truly unique character. The first new MINI Convertible was presented at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show three years after the closed MINI, but naturally with the same unmistakable design features. Apart from the soft roof combining the proportions typical of MINI when closed with a unique silhouette, the four-seater boasted a number of other features typical of a genuine Convertible. The waistline rising towards the end of the car, for example, was accentuated from the start by a chrome bar all round the vehicle, the steep windscreen was just as characteristic as the chrome-plated rollbar. And at the rear the boot lid opening downwards as well as the hinges at the outside offered further features reminiscent in their design of the classic Mini. The latest edition of the MINI Convertible experienced its first summer in 2016. 18 seconds suffice to combine the further enhanced driving fun in a MINI with the intense open-air feeling. This is facilitated in the new MINI by a fully-automated mechanism for opening the roof that is all-electric for the first time making it particularly low noise. There is now also a fully integrated rollbar.

Typically MINI – also in the premium compact segment.

Just as classical design features were transferred to a modern vehicle concept tailored to the requirements of the 21st century, the design so typical of the brand was also mapped onto the models of the premium compact segment. In 2010, the first MINI was presented with an exterior length of more than four metres, five doors and five seats. The MINI Countryman conquered new target groups across the world – with its unambiguous augmentation of versatility and the inimitable style of its design, making it a typical representative of the heritage British brand at first glance.

In the latest model generation, the MINI Clubman and the new edition of the MINI Countryman bring style typical of the brand into the premium compact segment. Reinterpreted and carefully enhanced, they also include typical MINI proportions, the characteristic three-way split between bodywork, window graphics and roof, the powerful stature underpinned by the wheels, and the unique details including the side scuttles, a large number of chrome elements, the hexagonal radiator grille and the large headlamps.

Dawn of a new era: The MINI Cooper SE.

As the first premium small car with all-electric drive, the new MINI Cooper SE also defines benchmarks for driving fun geared to the future in its design. It is based on the MINI 3 Door and differs from this with selective modifications and subtle differentiations from the conventionally powered models of the brand.

Powerful proportions, the horizontal vehicle structure, short overhangs and wheels positioned at the corners of the car characterise the appearance of the MINI Cooper SE. Precisely defined accents point to its future-proof drive system. The charging connection is positioned above the right-hand rear wheel and this is precisely where the tank nozzle is situated in the conventionally powered MINI 3 Door. An embossed MINI Electric Logo points to the difference in energy supply. Yellow versions of this logo also embellish the familiar side scuttles for the side indicators, the tailgate and the radiator grille. The central element of the vehicle’s front profile highlights the brand-typical hexagonal contour in the MINI Cooper SE, although it is shrouded owing to the low requirement of the electric motor for cooling air. A yellow trim bar on the grille and the wing-mirror caps finished in the same colour complete the model-specific design.

In the same way as the model-specific front grille, the essentially closed floorpan and the independent design of the rear apron contribute to the reduction of air resistance. The fact that the electrically powered MINI does not require an exhaust system, favours airflow in the floorpan and at the rear. An aerodynamically optimised surface is also highlighted by the optional 17-inch alloy wheels with an asymmetric design in the version MINI Electric Corona Spoke 2 Tone.

7.  The Revolutionary with the Drawing Pad.
Sir Alec Issigonis, the father of the classic Mini.

He had already been successful with his own sports cars and he had been commissioned on a number of occasions to develop large saloons. But his favourite project, as Alec Issigonis made it quite clear, was the construction of a simple, extremely functional and very affordable small car. So when Issigonis, the Deputy Technical Director of the Austin Plant in Longbridge, was requested in late 1965 by Leonard Lord, the Chairman of British Motor Corporation (BMC), to develop a brand-new and truly innovative car, he was absolutely thrilled and knew exactly what he wanted.

The new car was to be smaller than all models built by BMC so far, but nevertheless offer sufficient space for four occupants and their luggage. A four-cylinder already built by the company was to provide the necessary power, while the driving characteristics and the all-round economy of the new small car were to set new standards. Considering this brief and the demanding requirements to be fulfilled, what Issigonis needed was no more and no less than an absolutely revolutionary new design – exactly the right job for him and his team.

Back then Alec Issigonis was 51 years old, a seasoned constructor and automotive engineer with an unconventional career and an exceptional approach to his work. At the time his contemporaries described him as an almost pedantic tinkerer and a passionate technician simply bursting with enthusiasm. Issigonis did not always do his designs on the drawing board in the construction office, but rather opted for paper napkins or the little drawing pad he always kept handy to present his ideas to his colleagues and staff members during lunch. Mathematics he regarded as the “enemy of every creative human being”, and with his wealth of ideas, his enthusiasm and his distaste for compromises he pushed his team forward to top performance time and again.

After just seven months: test drive in the prototype Mini.
Opting for front-wheel drive and the engine fitted crosswise at the front with the gearbox directly below, Issigonis right from the start created ideal conditions for excellent efficiency in the use of space. No less than 80 per cent of the space taken up by the Mini, what one might call the car’s “footprint” on the road, was exclusively for the passengers and their luggage. Overall length of the new car was 3.05 metres or 120.0", and the Mini might indeed have been even shorter. But Issigonis had exact ideas and intentions, which he presented to his team in a rather unusual manner: He had them cut through a model of the Mini right down the middle, then moving the two halves apart centimetre by centimetre. And when he finally cried out “stop!”, the Mini had reached its ideal length.

Just seven months after the official go-ahead, two prototypes of the new small car were ready to go. So Issigonis invited his boss Leonard Lord to a test drive he still recalled full of amusement years later: “We drove round the Plant, and I was really going like hell. I’m certain he was scared, but he was very impressed by the car’s roadholding. So when we stopped outside his office, he got out and simply said: ‘All right, build this car.’ ”

From this moment on the ongoing development of the Mini in becoming a genuine legend was unstoppable. And Issigonis had secured his position on the podium as one of the world’s most ingenious and influential automobile constructors. The master himself was a bit more reserved, making it quite clear that “I didn’t invent the Mini, I built it.”

Alec Issigonis: straight from a family thrilled by technology.

Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis was born in the Turkish town of Smyrna, today’s Izmir, as the son of a Briton of Greek origin and a mother from Bavaria, on 18 November 1906. He inherited his great interest in technology and machines from his father who, shortly after the turn of the century, ran a company for marine engine technology.

In 1922 the family was forced to flee to Malta when the Turkish state was established in very hectic turmoil. His father died on the island and his mother took him to England where, two years later, young Alec was finally able to drive his first car: a Weymann-bodied Singer in which he chauffeured his mother through Europe in 1925 in a “never-ending series of breakdowns”, as Issigonis recalled later. But it was precisely this unforgettable experience which, immediately upon returning back home, encouraged him to start a three-year course in mechanical engineering at Battersea Polytechnic in London.

Issigonis’ great talent for craftsmanship and his passion for designing and drawing new technical concepts proved barely sufficient at the time to set off his strong distaste of mathematical theory. So he just about managed his final exam, but did not qualify for ongoing studies at the college in Battersea. His obvious conclusion was to enter professional life as a technical draughtsman and salesman in a design office for automotive technology in London. Buying an Austin Seven from his first salary, he prepared the car for racing and entered his first event in March 1929. In the years to follow Issigonis developed his own monoposto in his spare time with design and construction features destined to later make him famous: the Lightweight Special was absolutely tiny, extremely light, but technically progressive – and successful. In 1934 Issigonis joined the design and construction team of Humber Ltd., the Coventry-based car maker, where he worked on the introduction of independent suspension. He proved so good at the job that Morris Motors recruited him themselves just two years later on account
of his skill in suspension development.

During the war Issigonis had no choice but to work on various military vehicles, which he nevertheless used as “guinea pigs” for technical innovations.

In 1941 Morris launched the Mosquito Project, a compact four-seater for the post-war era. And indeed, despite the most challenging conditions, Issigonis, reputed to be an all-out workaholic, and his the team had the first road-going prototype ready within three years. Precisely this model introduced as the Morris Minor in 1948 became the most successful car built by the brand in the post-war years.

When Morris and Austin Motor Company merged four years later to form British Motor Corporation, Issigonis no longer saw any perspectives for his creativity in future. So he started working for Alvis, with the intention to develop a luxury saloon. But with the project ultimately failing for financial reasons, BMC took Issigonis on again in 1955 as their Deputy Technical Director at the Austin Plant in Longbridge. Here Issigonis was to develop a number of new model series for the small, medium-sized and upmarket segments to secure the future of what was then Europe’s largest car maker. Since particularly the small car project was acknowledged as very urgent due to the Suez Crisis, the new model made its debut in 1959 as the Morris Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven. Large models only came later, with the four-door Morris 1100 midrange model entering the market three years later and the very spacious Austin 1800 in 1964.

Career and knighthood: honoured for his lifetime achievement.

The success of the classic Mini also gave worldwide fame to the car’s “father”. In 1961 Alec Issgonis, in his position as Technical Director, became a Board Member of Austin Motor Company, and two years later he was appointed to the Board of BMC. In 1967 he became a member of the Royal Society, the most renowned research society in Britain, and two years later the Queen knighted the father of the Mini. Sir Alec Issigonis retired in 1971, but remained an advisor to the company until 1987. One year later he died on 2 October, shortly before his 82nd birthday.

To this day this outstanding automotive engineer and constructor lives on in countless memories. And the market launch of the second generation of the Mini was indeed held exactly on 18 November 2006, the 100th birthday of the father of the classic Mini, in the honour of this great man.

8.   Made in England – then and now.
MINI Production between past and future.

The first Mini was an Austin Seven coming off the production line in Austin’s Longbridge Plant in Birmingham on 4 April 1959. The team of twins was subsequently completed five weeks later, the first Morris Mini-Minor leaving the Morris Plant in Oxford on 8 May. The two models were presented to the public together for the first time on 26 August 1959. Despite their different origin, the Austin Seven and the Morris Mini-Minor were virtually identical, the only distinctions on the outside being their radiator grilles, the wheel caps and body colours: The Austin Seven was available in Tartan Red, Speedwell Blue, and Farina Grey, the Morris Mini-Minor came in Cherry Red, Clipper Blue, and Old English White.

Production at the two plants continued for ten years with the model built in Longbridge bearing the name Austin Mini as of 1962. Plant Oxford, which had been building cars since 1913, built exactly 602, 817 units during this period, all of them the basic version of the four-seater. All other model variants ranging from the Mini Van through the Mini Pick-Up all the way to the Morris Mini-Traveller and Austin Seven Countryman were built in Longbridge. In 1969 all production activities were concentrated at the Longbridge Plant, with the model range being streamlined and Mini becoming the brand name for this revolutionary compact car. So the days of the twin brothers (or sisters?) were over once and for all.

A million cars in six years: the MINI repeats the rapid start of the classic Mini.

With the brand being re-positioned in 2001 under the guidance of the
BMW Group and production of the modern MINI starting as planned, it was only obvious that MINI had to move back to Oxford, the plant so rich in tradition thus once again becoming the starting point for a genuine revolution in the small car market. And like the classic Mini, the MINI made a remarkable start into the market exceeding all expectations: within just six years, Plant Oxford built no less than a million units of the MINI. This was indeed just as long as the classic Mini had taken to exceed the one-million mark, but back then production was still at two plants.

After 41 years and a production volume of more than 5.3 million units, the last classic Mini left Plant Longbridge on 4 October 2000. Since the decision to build the modern MINI in Oxford had already been taken half a year before, only nine months remained from then on to the start of MINI pre-production and just 13 months to the start of actual series production. Clearly, therefore, the roughly 2,500 employees in Oxford at the time and their colleagues from BMW Plant Regensburg supporting the modernisation process faced a great challenge and a truly tight timetable in making this new start into the market.

MINI production in Oxford according to the strict quality standards of the BMW Group.

The BMW Group had already invested some £ 280 million in the Rover Plant in Oxford back in 1996/1997, thoroughly modernising the Bodyshop and Final Assembly. Another project also completed back then was a state-of-the-art Paintshop, at the time the second-largest construction project in Great Britain following the Millennium Dome. And now this was followed by further investments amounting to some £ 230 million serving to modernise and re-structure the plant.

All this made Oxford one of the most modern car production plants in the world, boasting cutting-edge technology specifically for the production of the MINI. No less than 229 production robots were installed at the time to build the body-in-white, with a laser measuring system serving to check the body of the MINI down to a precision of no less than 0.05 millimetres. The Paintshop was likewise custom-built for the requirements of MINI production, not only allowing very precise and environmentally friendly application of the paint, but also providing the contrasting paint finish on the roof so typical of the MINI Cooper.

Oxford also became the first European car production plant to make exclusive use of electrical tools in final assembly, while the KISS (Core Production Integrating Management System) serves to fully automate communication in the production process by using the most advanced information technology. In this process the complete production of each individual model is electronically documented from the body-in-white all the way to final assembly, again ensuring that every MINI complies with the supreme quality standards of the BMW Group.

Team work for premium quality: The MINI Production Triangle.
When production of the new edition of the MINI was launched in autumn of 2006, the production facilities in Oxford (Bodyshop, Paintshop and Assembly), Swindon (Pressings) and Hams Hall (Engine Production) were integrated in the MINI Production Triangle for the first time. Body panels have been produced in Swindon, some 70 kilometres west of Oxford, since 1954. Today, pre-assembled body components such as lids and doors for the MINI Bodyshop are manufactured at Plant Oxford. Since 2001, the plant at Hams Hall near Birmingham has been the BMW Group’s Competence Centre for the production of four-cylinder petrol engines with a capacity of up to 2.0 litres. The plant delivers petrol engines directly to Oxford – just in time and just in sequence, that is at exactly the right time and in the right sequence for final assembly.

After 60 years: Ten million MINIs produced.

Capacity that started in 2001 as 300 vehicles manufactured each day has now increased to production output of around 1 000 units per day. Every 67 seconds, a workforce of 4 500 employees manufactures a MINI – each one of them is an ambassador for its idea, its country and its zest for life. In 2019, 60 years of the brand’s existence was celebrated in Oxford alongside a landmark production anniversary. The ten millionth vehicle of the brand rolled off the assembly line at the traditional site with an illustrious heritage: a MINI 3 Door from the 60 Years Edition.

Since 2000, the BMW Group has invested more than two billion pounds sterling in its production facilities in the United Kingdom. Recently, final assembly was expanded at the MINI Plant Oxford and a new paintshop was built. The latest investments have been channelled into the MINI Cooper SE. From November 2019, the first all-electric powered model manufactured by the brand will be produced at the MINI Plant Oxford.

Global growth strategy: Expansion of production capacities.

The models MINI 3 Door, MINI 5 Door and MINI Clubman are currently being produced at the MINI Plant Oxford. In order to take account of the continuous increase in demand, the BMW Group reached a decision in 2014 on contracted-out production of MINI models at the contract producer VDL Nedcar based in Born, Netherlands. MINI is therefore the only automaker to have series vehicles produced under contract manufacture in the Netherlands. The BMW Group benefits from the logistically advantageous location of the VDL Nedcar plant in the Born and its proximity to the British production triangle with locations in Oxford, Swindon and Hams Hall. The MINI Convertible and MINI Countryman models currently roll off the assembly line in Born.

In addition, the BMW Group and Chinese automobile manufacturer Great Wall concluded a joint-venture agreement in 2018. This covers a number of areas including the production of all-electric powered MINI vehicles for the Chinese market. A joint manufacturing facility is also scheduled for construction in the Chinese province of Jiangsu.

9.   Individualists united!
MINI fans are networked worldwide.

An active and truly versatile fan community all around the classic Mini was already established in the United Kingdom Great Britain, the home country of the classic Mini, way back in the 1960s. Right from the start, fans expressed their common interest in the car and the brand by exchanging knowledge and experience all about the Mini and its technical features. Due to the charming character of this small compact car, owners of a classic Mini strongly identified right from the start with both their car and the brand, sharing this enthusiasm in joint drive-aways and regular Mini meetings, with clubs originally organised on a local basis spreading wider and wider to bring together large regions.

A dynamic club scene also developed quite early on in Germany, gaining additional momentum through the re-launch of the brand and the introduction of the MINI. In the meantime, thousands of members are organised throughout Germany in more than 100 classic Mini communities and more than 50 MINI Clubs. Through their wide range of activities, these enthusiasts act as authentic ambassadors of the brand and competent partners for new fans of both the classic Mini and the MINI. Furthermore, MINI enthusiasts joined together to share activities in lots of other countries. The international MINI Community is a phenomenon without parallel in the world of the automobile. MINI owners are individualists and this is reflected in the styling and equipment of their vehicles geared to personal style. At the same time, they have much in common and this is expressed in exceptionally communicative engagement with each other and in enthusiasm for technology, motor sport, lifestyle and design.

MINI enthusiasts come together – online and in the street.

The Community became increasingly international with the general spread of modern means of communication. Upon the introduction of the MINI into the market in 2001, the brand was positioned with the same standard philosophy and spirit for the first time worldwide in all relevant markets. Above all, use of the internet had enhanced the options to interact across national borders and continents. Members of national MINI online communities foster contact with similar clubs throughout the world on the World Wide Web.

As in the past, real-life meetings which, thanks to the use of many communication channels and the support of MINI have taken on impressive dimensions, are naturally still among the highlights of all activities. In 2005, for example, MINI Germany, together with the national classic Mini and MINI Clubs, organised the first national meeting in Germany for fans of the brand. Back then more than 2,500 participants travelled to the National Meeting, heading for the Loreley Plateau on the River Rhine, where they enjoyed a highly entertaining programme with MINI Driver Training, a Design Workshop, meetings with Mike Cooper and rally legend Rauno Aaltonen, as well as the presentation of new versions of the MINI. A second meeting at the Hildesheim Aerodrome in 2008 proved even more successful, at least in terms of participation, with twice as many MINI enthusiasts from all over Germany attending the event.

The national and international activities in the British club scene are even more spectacular. In 1999, for example, more than 50,000 visitors attended the International Meeting in Goodwood celebrating the 40th birthday of the brand. In 2007 269 cars driving through Blackpool formed the longest MINI convoy the world has ever seen. Indeed, this unique parade was promptly entered in the Guinness Book of Records, breaking the former record set up by the MINI Club in Vancouver, Canada, when 195 cars had formed a similar convoy. The brand’s 50th birthday was celebrated at the MINI United Festival on the Formula 1 race track at Silverstone in Britain in 2009. Tens of thousands of fans enjoyed a varied mix somewhere between a lifestyle party and music festival, show programme and motor-sport action.

International Mini Meeting: Meeting point for fans of the British original for more than 40 years.

As a supplement to the market-specific activities in a large number of countries, the International Mini Meeting (IMM) has been held for the past 41 years. The IMM was launched on an initiative by German fans of the classic Mini. It was held for the first time in 1978 and since then it has developed into the world’s biggest annual event for the owners and friends of the classic Mini. Meanwhile, Mini Clubs in various European countries have taken on the role of host. At intervals of five years, the British homeland of the classic Mini and the MINI is the showplace for the IMM.

The focus of attention is always enthusiasm for the classic Mini and its exceptional history since 1959. The event is one of the highlights in the calendar of the international Mini Club scene. The participants undertake journeys over hundreds or even thousands of kilometres in order to present their lovingly maintained classic Mini or individually styled MINI to other enthusiasts, and to enjoy the togetherness experience of an exceptionally active community.

Happy invasion: MINI Takes The States.

Since 2006, MINI has been conquering the USA every two years. The rally MINI Takes The States is a happy invasion by thousands of MINI fans with their vehicles. They take part in a fun-loving and exciting tour over some 4 000 kilometres across the United States with lots of stops at famous sights and in major cities where MINI drivers present their vehicles, meet up at informal get-togethers and the massive convoy of varied classic Minis and MINIs continues to grow. The journey takes drivers along carefully selected routes and through some beautiful scenic countryside.

Apart from pure driving fun and the community event, the rally is also all about social engagement. A substantial portion of the starting fee is transferred to the aid organisation Feeding America, which provides meals free of charge for needy Americans. At the MINI Takes The States rally, which travelled from Portland in the far North West and Orlando in the South East to the meeting point at
Keystone / Colorado in the Rocky Mountains during the summer of 2018, donations for around 1.1 million meals were collected. The next MINI Takes The States Event will be held in 2020.

10. The car for all classes with
the qualities of a star.
MINI as a member of society.

Alec Issigonis saw the Mini from the start as a car for everybody – for all kinds of drivers and all social classes. He therefore sought, through the car he had created, to solve the everyday problems of individual mobility. With this in mind, the compact and economical Mini was exactly the right answer for increasingly dense traffic in the inner city and for the concerns at the time about the reduction of oil supplies following the Suez Crisis.

But soon it became clear that the Mini was much, much more. Its concept alone was so convincing that the car was seen and acknowledged as a trendsetter. Its sporting qualities made the Mini a genuine winner, its charming design made it incredibly popular throughout the population. So suddenly the Mini had become
a genuine cult, its innovative and non-conformist character perfectly reflecting the spirit of the 1960s, at a time when progressive concepts, the thrill of adventure, and even a certain lack of respect versus conventional values dominated the world. This was a car quite different from others but nevertheless offering more and providing even more fun – exactly the right car at the right time. Very quickly, therefore, fashion creators, musicians and other artists were captivated by the unique style of the Mini, stars discovering the qualities of the car and the world recognising the qualities of the Mini as a star itself.

Launched in 2001, the new MINI, a truly unique car just as popular and charming right from the beginning, quickly established a large, and, in particular, widespread fan community. All over the world, numerous celebrities now enjoy the agile driving pleasure offered by this modern and nimble performer. No surprise, therefore, that the MINI has already starred as the “leading car” in many Hollywood films. And it is also no surprise that the MINI is to be found in the private fleets of many famous actors, musicians, fashion designers and other stars in show business, society and sport.

Supported by the Queen herself.

The classic Mini quickly gained the reputation of a car for everybody on all levels of society. While Issigonis still regarded practical and economically-minded families seeking sensible mobility at low cost as his target group, he was also aiming at all levels of society as potential drivers of the Mini. Lord Snowdon, a good friend of Alec Issigonis, deserves the honour to have introduced the classic Mini into the society in London. One of the first owners of this small classic and completely thrilled by the car’s compact dimensions and excellent handling, Lord Snowdon soon became a common sight driving speedily through the British capital. As the husband of Princess Margaret, he obviously used his muscle, making sure that in 1960 Issigonis had the opportunity to present his small car to nobody else but his sister-in-law, Queen Elizabeth herself. So when the Queen took her seat next to Issigonis in the Mini, enjoying a lap through the big park of Windsor Castle, the classic Mini had really made a Royal breakthrough.

In the years to come the classic Mini became a genuine scene car particularly in Great Britain, gaining growing popularity throughout all levels of society, in all age groups, and with all nationalities. Time and again, prominent artists gave further momentum to the great reputation of this small performer. Fashion designers Paul Smith and Mary Quant discovered their love for the Mini, stars in the pop and rock scene such as The Beatles, Eric Clapton and David Bowie expressed a clear pledge to this small athlete from Britain.

Trends destined to soon influence not only the fashion, art or music scene worldwide, but also the world of politics and society, came out in full power from Swinging London in the 1960s. Paul Smith, who, among other achievements, became Britain’s most famous designer of men’s fashion by combining classic designs with modern, in many cases very bright and almost screaming colours, even created a limited Special Edition of the Mini in the 1990s. A unique, one-off Mini boasting paintwork created by Smith in his typical multi-colour stripe livery became at least as popular as this special series, even though it was built only once.

Mary Quant, the style icon of British women’s fashion and the inventor of the mini-skirt, was also inspired by the classic Mini. Shortly after she received her driver’s licence, she ordered a black Mini and later created her own Special Edition characterised by features such as the seat upholstery in black-and-white stripes. And she was just as thrilled by the new MINI: “A really fashionable, happy and smiling car”.

“Keep on Running!” – the Mini and rock’n’roll.

The British music scene in the 1960s had the same broad impact as the British world of fashion, musicians from Britain presenting that unique and unmistakable British style in truly revolutionary songs. And with the Mini offering very similar style and character, the stars were obviously thrilled by the new car. So bands like The Beatles, The Who or The Spencer Davis Group as ambassadors of a new British culture gaining growing popularity the world over also helped to promote the Mini and its unique image.

The legends and stories all about the Mini and its role as a means of transport for the stars remain fascinating to this very day. In 1964, for example, John Lennon ordered a Mini although at the time he did not even have a driver’s licence. His colleague George Harrison lent his Mini to Eric Clapton in 1967 and only got it back three years later. And the story about Spencer Davis is that he wrote the biggest hit his band ever had while driving through the night in the rainy Scottish Highlands on an almost empty tank. That was when, looking at the fuel gauge, only one thought went through his mind: “Keep on Running!”

In 1966, the Beach Boys from California in the US took their surfer sound on an international tour and posed in front of a Mini Moke in the United Kingdom. The picture of the Californian musicians and the beach buggy emblazoned with the name of the band went all over the world. At around the same time, American band The Monkees reached the peak of its popularity. A photo from this era shows guitarist and singer Michael Nesmith together with his wife Phyllis looking out through the folding roof of a Mini into the camera directed towards the couple from above.

Roll the film: the classic Mini takes care of the “Italian Job” and is later followed by the MINI.

Nobody knows how often the classic Mini served in films and television as a means of transport or as the star in the background. It is to be admired, at any rate, in the 1966 cult classic “Blow Up” and of course in countless TV and cinema appearances by comedian Rowan Atkinson better known as Mr Bean. A Mini Moke even starred in the James Bond thriller “Live and Let Die”. In 1973, Roger Moore embarked on a wild car chase in the beach buggy during his first appearance as agent 007. The classic Mini is also one of the very few British small cars ever to play a leading role in the cinema, for example in the 1969 classic “The Italian Job” starring Michael Caine. The whole film virtually revolves around only one subject, a wild pursuit through Torino with three Mini Coopers. No surprise, therefore, that immediately after the film had premiered Rover launched a special series of classic Minis finished like the film stars themselves and proudly bearing the title of the film. “The Italian Job” came back to the silver screen no less than 34 years later, this time starring Charlize Theron and Mark Wahlberg in the new version from Hollywood, presenting the story of a spectacular gold robbery in even more powerful and dramatic style. When “casting” the four-wheeled stars in the film the producer’s and director’s choice – obviously! – was to go for the new MINI Cooper S now able to present its agility and sporting performance not only on the streets of Los Angeles, but even below the streets of the city.

A year earlier the MINI Cooper had already shown its qualities as the ideal car for wild pursuits in the agents’ comedy “Goldmember”. In choosing the stars for his production, script writer and leading actor Mike Myers had picked not only an unusual line-up of Hollywood stars – ranging from Steven Spielberg to Tom Cruise, Michael Caine, Robert Wagner, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta and all the way to Beyoncé Knowles and Ozzy Osborne – but also six MINI Coopers in Union Jack livery. In the meantime, the MINI Convertible has also made its way to Hollywood, winning over the hearts of movie-goers once and for all in the year 2007. This was in the comedy “The Heartbreak Kid”, in which Malin Akerman and Ben Stiller went on their honeymoon journey in a MINI Convertible. Obviously, on the way this open four-seater became the scene for all kinds of wonderful debates and amusing stories involving the newly-wed on their trip together. A Hollywood career is also being pursued by the latest MINI generation. Four MINI Cooper S 3 Door models appeared in the science fiction comedy “PIXELS” driven by the main protagonists Adam Sandler, Peter Dinklage, Denis Akiyama and Josh Gad, with the aim of protecting the world against invaders from outer space in the form of video-game characters.

11. Small car, great show.
MINI Marketing.

The MINI always hits the headlines wherever it appears – even before a new model is introduced into the market. Innovative marketing campaigns always good for a surprise and generating great appeal present both the MINI brand and the individual models with their full impact.

MINI marketing uses an exceptionally wide range of communication channels to establish close contacts with potential target groups. Supplementing classic activities in print media, on the radio and television, MINI’s marketing experts developed innovative online activities right from the start tailored precisely to the modern, trend-minded and technology-oriented user of the world wide web and taking the options of interactive communication with the public into account. This approach empowers MINI to continuously generate new momentum in automobile construction and in the world of marketing.

The classic Mini – the “Most Exciting Car in the World”.

Innovative, self-confident, charming: right from the start the classic Mini clearly presented its exceptional character not only on the road, but also in a close dialogue with the public. From the early years classic marketing concepts were used consistently to present the special features of this revolutionary small car in truly convincing style. With a twinkle in the eye, even the very first sales brochures emphasised that the whole world had been waiting for the “Incredible Austin Seven”, the letter “v” in “Seven” being replaced by the number “7”. And the Austin’s sister model, the Morris Mini-Minor, was presented just as proudly as the “Most Exciting Car in the World”.

The Mini marketing experts also kept a close eye on the worldwide success of television, carefully using this new media also for the Mini. Special TV commercials were therefore produced for various purposes in the market, in all cases emphasising selected facets of the Mini’s character and naturally considering the cultural context of the local public. Whether as the perfect solution for congested traffic in downtown Paris or as the ideal means of transport to the beach in Australia – the Mini was always presented as the right car at the right place. Even in a cartoon it proudly presented its superiority, full of humour and again with that famous tongue-in-cheek style.

Making a new start with innovative ideas.

The re-launch of the brand in 2001 also marked a new beginning in marketing carefully prepared in parallel to the development of the car as such. The main challenge was to establish MINI as the first premium brand in the small car segment, with MINI to be positioned worldwide as a unique and fully independent brand in its own right – a brand revolving around the concept of enthusiasm and thrilling lifestyle.

These principles of brand management remain unchanged to this day, with the MINI characterised by its outstanding product substance and progressive technology, emotional design and agile driving behaviour as well as almost unlimited options in customising the car. A further significant point is finding the right balance of continuity of a brand now going back 60 years and its innovative capacities. Introducing the MINI, customers the world over for the first time had the opportunity to experience premium qualities in a small car. These outstanding qualities and features are indeed to be found in every model made by the brand, at the same time distinguishing MINI clearly from the competition. The same applies to the brand’s appearance in public, where all marketing tools follow a unique, consistently recognisable style. Graphic elements, colours, the language of pictures and the MINI concept conveyed in words and pictures are clearly defined. MINI is refreshingly different. Through its openness and self-confidence, the brand gains great acceptance, through its appearance it arouses curiosity
and appeal.

To arouse the attention of the target group in mind right from the start prior to the market launch of the MINI, the responsible marketing experts have been taking a new approach in communication from the beginning. The magazine “MINI international”, for example, regularly portrays selected cities around the globe, focusing on their particularly creative inhabitants. Apart from classic communication, other innovative forms of communication such as “guerrilla marketing” have always been implemented right from the start. In 2000, MINI
was the first car brand to use the internet not only as an information source, but also as a positioning medium.

Always good for a surprise: Creative campaigns with powerful impact.

In 2013, the brand continued the tradition of unconventional and humorous promotions in a broad range of communication channels with the campaign to promote the market launch of the new MINI. The launch campaign kicks off centred around elaborately produced TV commercials. Tongue-in-cheek stories showcase the unique driving fun offered by the brand as well as the powerful emotional bond established between drivers and their MINI. A familiar co-star with the fans of the brand will appear alongside the brand new MINI: the English Bulldog Spike. Individual lifestyle, enthusiasm for driving fun, innovative technology and a sense of quirkiness are highlighted in the TV commercial, which is shot with various endings. On his first trip in the new MINI, bulldog Spike gets to know and appreciate all the main strengths of the newest member of the British small car family.

The MINI Design Team also created a sensation with some exceptional happenings at Milan’s Salone del Mobile in 2013. Das MINI Design Team staged the MINI Paceman as a dynamic sculpture. The MINI KAPOOOW! installation was conceived in two parts in which the MINI Paceman broke through spatial boundaries and experienced a transformation of materials and forms. Athletic agility empowered the MINI Paceman to make the leap into a universe where colours and materials undergo transformation and open up unimaginable experiential spaces. The first phase showed the rear end of the MINI Paceman as a highly dynamic sculpture. It was presented as a chrome-plated authentic vehicle and then began to undergo metamorphosis. The individual parts of the vehicle appeared to fly apart. In the second phase, the MINI Paceman broke through a boundary in the middle of the space. In this new dimension, the vehicle changed its original form and the front end became an idea made of paper. The material of paper was presented as a metaphor for “prototyping” in the creative process.

Powered by a sustainable drivetrain through North, Central and South America: With the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 on the Panamericana.

The Panamericana is one of the last big automobile adventures. In 2018, three models of the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4$ with plug-in hybrid drives took on an intercontinental road trip along the world’s longest north-south road route in order to prove just how tough sustainability can be. The journey along the historic dream route – 17 000 kilometres from Dallas in the US State of Texas to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina – took them through different climate zones, across dense jungle and over challenging high-altitude mountain passes. Along with well-built highways, the three plug-in-hybrid models also had to contend with parts of the route network comprising dirt tracks and narrow mountain passes.

In 2018, the spectacular feat showcased MINI and the qualities of the electric power unit in those countries where awareness of sustainable mobility is only coming slowly to the fore. At the same time, these countries are being particularly affected by the consequences of climate change.

12. Inspiring Character.
MINI lifestyle and special editions.

Creating something very special on the basis of a car already very special – this is the hallmark of the special editions, limited editions and one-off showpieces built time and again in the last sixty years first on the basis of the classic Mini and then on the basis of the new MINI. This is not surprising, considering that this unique small car has fascinated and inspired artists in all disciplines time and again, fashion designers and painters as well as actors and musicians showing their creativity in designing and creating very special versions of the brand.

No other car has become the object of art and fashion as often and in the same diversity as the classic Mini and the MINI. Indeed, specialists discovered the potential of the classic Mini very early on, adorning the car both outside and inside with exclusive special features tailored to individual customer requests.
On behalf of affluent and prominent customers, they therefore created spectacular special models enhancing the cult status of the Mini to an even higher level.

Mini in noble style: the Wickerwork Look.

British actor Peter Sellers was one of the first celebrities thrilled by the Mini and seeking to live out their sense for exclusive style. So giving the originally rather spartan small car particular sophisticated features within the interior and finishing the body in wickerwork design, Sellers promptly started a new trend. Indeed, this design later thrilled Rainier of Monaco to such an extent that he also had a classic Mini built in wickerwork trim as his own very special toy.

Other special versions of the classic Mini likewise remained unique, one-off models being built for many years to the individual taste of their future owners. In fact, it was only in the 1970s that Mini had the idea to offer Special Editions straight from the factory in response to frequent requests for a truly exclusive model. The first car of this kind, the Mini Limited Edition 1000, immediately proved a success in 1976. On its 25th birthday in 1984, the Mini for the first time appeared as an Anniversary Model, with further Anniversary Models then following every five years until production of the classic Mini finally ceased in
the year 2000.

Silver and gold on the car’s 40th birthday.

In the last few years of its production life, the classic Mini again attracted great attention on the part of creative artists. In 1997, for example, British fashion designer Paul Smith created a one-off model boasting unmistakable stripe livery.

A year later Smith designed a Special Edition Mini standing out both through its brilliant blue paintwork and straightforward elegance within the interior.

Celebrating its 40th birthday, the Mini became the subject of passion among an illustrious group of artists, each giving this forever-young small performer their very own, truly unique design look. Super-model Kate Moss, for example, who had already been driving a classic Mini in London for a long time, opted for a cobweb motif, while pop icon Davie Bowie had a Mini manufactured all in chrome and
with reflecting glass surfaces. On the road, however, Bowie decided to stick to his regular production model he had bought only recently: “When it comes to parking the Mini is like a sandwich when you feel hungry – it is a perfectly designed classic”. Actor Michael Caine, to quote another example, gave his black Mini a
gold bar look alluding to the successful film “The Italian Job” in which Caine was involved in three Mini Coopers used to transport gold in one of the most spectacular pursuits in the history of the cinema.

A hit right from the start: the new MINI inspires pop musicians.

After the re-launch of the brand, the MINI again attracted the attention of fashion designers and many other artists almost over night. Celebrating the market launch of the MINI, the musicians of Jamiroquai created a one-off showpiece of the new MINI, Jay Kay, the group’s singer and a thrilled fan of stylish cars, adorning the MINI, among other features, with the group’s logo on its doors and bonnet as well as the name “Jamiromini”.

In one of her music videos, Madonna had a MINI Cooper converted for offroad use, the car giving up its doors but instead receiving offroad tyres and camouflage paintwork. Highlighting the start of sales of the first-generation MINI Convertible in 2004, designers at Bisazza, the Italian lifestyle label, had the idea to present this open four-seater in a dress made of tiny mosaic stones. Indeed, no less than three MINI Cooper S Convertibles as well as two fixed-roof models received this magnificent look in individual style and colours, with more than 30,000 glass stones used on each car.

MINI, fashion, and charity: showing social commitment at the Life Ball.

Joining forces with renowned artists, MINI has been committed for twelve years to the largest charity event in Europe, the Life Ball held annually in Vienna and generating revenues for national and international aids care projects. The event thus serves to support projects committed to enlightenment, medical research, and the treatment of HIV patients. Contributing to these projects, every year MINI has presented a special one-off model from the current portfolio finished in unique style by fashion designers.

The succession of Life Ball cars started just a few months after the official market launch of the new MINI with a car covered entirely by red fabric. A year later a MINI One proudly bearing the autographs of numerous celebrities made its appearance at the Life Ball. Since 2003, major fashion designers have given the MINI their special touch. The first of these designers was Angelo Missoni adorning a MINI Cooper with countless flower motifs. In 2004 Gianfranco Ferré gave a red MINI Convertible a truly impressive crocodile look, with a MINI Cooper Convertible in Donatella Versace’s exclusive blossom look following in 2005, its interior also highlighting that typical Versace style, with gold-coloured seams on the black leather seats and Swarovski crystals on the gearshift lever.

In 2006 another MINI Cooper Convertible made its appearance on stage at the Life Ball Gala in Vienna, this time in the trendy jeans look of the Diesel fashion label. And the 2008 Life Ball MINI, finally, proudly came in the provocative pin-up look of lingerie label Agent Provocateur. In 2013, Roberto and Eva Cavalli unveiled the Life Ball MINI 2013 refined by fashion designer Cavalli. Since 2002 the cars provided by MINI have been auctioned after the Life Ball Gala, with proceeds going to aids projects.

Architectural solutions for urban worlds of living: MINI defines life in the city.

“Creative Use of Space” lies at the core of the MINI brand. As early as 1959, the classic Mini offered an ingenious solution for one of the most pressing problems of that era – urban mobility at an affordable price. The solution was a vehicle that made the most of its potential and provided maximum driving fun on a minimal traffic footprint. The classic Mini demonstrated that even a small car can be exceptionally exciting and it went on to influence urban mobility for generations to come. Today, one of the biggest challenges in major cities is finding attractive and affordable living space. Once again, the solution here is: “Creative Use of Space”. Since 2016, the brand has used its initiative MINI LIVING to demonstrate how this principle can be transferred to urban living space. MINI LIVING adopts
a creative approach to the challenge in large cities – and presents architectural solutions for urban living worlds of the future.

MINI has joined forces with Chinese property developer NOVA Property Investment Co. to create the world’s first MINI LIVING building in Shanghai. The project is based on an innovative co-living concept. MINI is creating a vibrant urban neighbourhood out of a group of six buildings right at the centre of the city. This was previously a disused industrial complex in an upcoming part of the city’s famous Jing’An district. An urban hotspot is rising out of a former paint factory with lots of space for working, networking and living. The project is developing apartments of different sizes for singles, flat shares or families to rent on a short, medium or long-term basis. Anything that does not fit into the apartments themselves, whether this relates to activities or facilities, can take place or be accommodated in the community spaces. Generous lobbies, exhibition areas and a food court are an invitation to linger and spend time relaxing. The package is completed by gardens, play areas, shops and restaurants that will also be accessible to the general public. The idea of MINI LIVING is that sharers will get more out of life – to the advantage of the residents and the entire city. Digital booking of services complements the package. For example, the residents can make restaurant reservations, order food, or call up room cleaning and service, and book vehicles for shared use. MINI LIVING is demonstrating an intelligent approach to space and is also developing new opportunities for individual and at the same time communal life in the city.

13. A Question of Style.
THE MINI Lifestyle collection.

Driving fun in the MINI is fascinating. But the unique feeling so typical of the MINI goes much, much further. And to express his or her passion for unmistakable style also off the road, the genuine enthusiast will find lots of options in the MINI Lifestyle Collection. This unique Collection comprises fashion, jewellery, accessories and lots of lifestyle products which make it easier not only for the MINI driver to clearly express his or her individual style. Technology, innovation, fun and quality are the primary features offered by the MINI Lifestyle Collection. And like the MINI model range, the MINI Lifestyle Collection is constantly growing and becoming increasingly versatile. New models and new lifestyle products, therefore, enable the connoisseur to enjoy the typical feeling of MINI in a growing number of situations.

On its route in becoming an international best seller in all classes and on all levels of society, the classic Mini in its day already inspired the world of fashion time and again. Renowned designers created individual, one-off models with exceptional body paintwork and interior features. In the 1970s the Mini finally proceeded from the garage to the houses of its fans everywhere – as a miniature model for the children’s room or as a collector’s item for the display cabinet.

Introducing the MINI, the Company also decided to start the unique MINI Lifestyle Collection. And from the beginning, this exclusive line-up of outstanding products was characterised by stylish, cosmopolitan and highly appealing as well as truly surprising details. The MINI Lifestyle Collection takes up the latest exciting trends time and again, continuing and enhancing these trends in the typical style of the brand.

MINI all the way: imaginative, versatile, unmistakable.

In their drafts for the MINI Lifestyle Collection, the most outstanding designers focus not only on the latest fashion trends, but also on the design language and lines of the various MINI models. Indeed, the cars also set the foundation for the various products through their colours and materials, helping to create a product portfolio typical of the brand and truly versatile in every respect, and constantly introducing new ideas to remain absolutely unique. Yet a further highlight in
the current range is the John Cooper Works Collection comprising both fashion products and accessories as an expression of the brand’s sporting spirit also beyond the race track.

The MINI Lifestyle Collection: starring at fashion events and on the cinema screen.

The MINI Lifestyle Collection has already become a highlight in the fashion scene and is to be admired regularly at the most outstanding fashion events. One of these events is the renowned BREAD & BUTTER fashion show in Barcelona, where the MINI Lifestyle Collection has already been presented on various occasions. Other, comparable events likewise provide the ideal setting time and again for the MINI brand. Like the MINI itself, the products in the MINI Lifestyle Collection have also made it to the cinema screen, with numerous performances in many productions. The MINI Cuckoo Clock and the MINI Baby Racer, for example, played important roles in the Disney production Lily the Witch – the Dragon and the Magical Book. Together with the leading female star Alina Freund, the animated dragon Hector showed his great interest in the MINI Lifestyle Collection in this cinema production of the famous children’s book. In particular he loved the MINI Baby Racer that enabled him to get around in fast and furious style.

MINI Feeling everywhere – the current MINI Lifestyle Collection.

A clearly defined language of form, inimitable design and high-quality materials are the hallmark of the current MINI Lifestyle Collection 2018–2020. It offers a diverse selection of products that make the complex everyday routine simpler, more enriched or enhanced, and they embody the essence of the MINI brand – even beyond the vehicles themselves. The collection includes more than 100 items and encompasses clothing through accessories, bags and luggage to articles for children and mobility products.

The visual profile of the MINI Lifestyle Collection 2018-2020 features two new impressive accent colours “Island” and “Coral”. The contemporary shade of blue “Island” melds with the exterior colour of “Island Blue” from the current MINI Countryman. The bright shade of red “Coral” provides the ideal hue to complement this livery and defines a fresh accent. The two accent colours are a perfect foil in interplay with the basic colours of Black, White and Grey.

The product selection of the current MINI Lifestyle Collection ranges from the popular logo T-shirts, polo shirts and sweatshirts, through the MINI Logo Patch Sweatshirt Kids with practical kangaroo pocket and caps, to bags and suitcases of different sizes. Then there are also stylish accessories such as umbrellas, Bluetooth Speakers, watches, sunglasses and travel mugs, the MINI Cloth-Bound Notebook, the MINI Fountain Pen and the MINI Tea Maker. The range for younger MINI fans includes the MINI Bulldog and the MINI Puzzle Set. Juniors can experience different versions of driving fun with the MINI Pull Toy Car, the remote-controlled MINI Countryman RC and the MINI Tricycle. In addition, the MINI 60 Years Lifestyle Collection was created in celebration of the landmark anniversary, including special designer items in the style of the British brand.

All products in the MINI Lifestyle Collection are marketed worldwide through the MINI dealer network.

Come and celebrate 60 Years of iconic creativity and trailblazing driving fun with MINI. #LiveMINI, and join the celebrations on 31 August 2019 at the Cradle Pavilion, Cradle Boutique Hotel. Gates open at 12:00, and tickets are on sale now. 

^{The BMW Group}

^{With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises 30 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.}

^{In 2018, the BMW Group sold over 2,490,000 passenger vehicles and more than 165,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2017 was € 10.655 billion on revenues amounting to € 98.678 billion. As of 31 December 2017, the BMW Group had a workforce of 129,932 employees.}

^{The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.}

^{www.bmwgroup.com}

^{www.mini.co.za}

^{Twitter: www.twitter.com/MINISouthAfrica}

^{Facebook: www.facebook.com/MINI.southafrica}

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The British premium automobile manufacturer strengthens the progressive character and appeal of its models in the small car segment with a stylishly refined visual appearance and extensive technological advancements. The update for the MINI 3 door (combised fuel consumption: 6.0 – 3.8 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 138 – 99 g/km), the MINI 5 door (combined fuel consumption: 6.2 – 3.8 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 141 – 101 g/km) and the MINI Convertible (combined fuel consumption: 6.3 – 4.2 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 144 – 111 g/km) includes fresh design accentuations, innovations in the field of drive technology, additional customisation options and an expansion of the digital services available as part of MINI Connected.

The upgrading of the original product substance in the premium segment of small cars highlights the mature yet distinctive charisma of MINI, which in its current model generation is now available for the first time with three body types for hallmark driving fun in urban traffic. This is due to such elements as the new engine-transmission combinations, an extended range of standard features, newly designed headlights and rear lights, additional body finishes and cutting-edge connectivity technology for convenience and infotainment.

MINI 3 door, MINI 5 door, MINI Convertible: overview of new features.

•       LED headlights with Matrix function for the high beam.
•       LED rear lights in Union Jack design.
•       New MINI logo, new body finishes, Piano Black exterior.
•       New light alloy wheels.
•       Extended range of leather trim, interior surfaces and Colour Lines.
•       Unique individualisation with MINI Yours Customised.
•       Further developed engines with enhanced efficiency as well as increased capacity and torque for MINI One and MINI One First.
•       7-speed Steptronic transmission with double clutch, 8-speed Steptronic transmission.
•       Multifunction steering wheel and radio with 6.5-inch colour screen, USB and Bluetooth interface as standard.
•       Optional radio and navigation systems with touchscreen monitor.
•       Telephony with wireless charging.
•       MINI logo projection from the exterior mirror on the driver's side.
•       MINI Connected and MINI Connected XL with new functions.

Bright and dazzle-free: adaptive LED headlights with Matrix function for the high beam.

A modified design for the characteristic circular headlights make the hallmark front view of the new MINI 3 door, the new MINI 5 door and the new MINI Convertible even more powerfully expressive. In the standard halogen headlights, a striking accentuation is added by means of a black panel. In the LED headlights available as optional equipment items, the high-quality technology is underscored by means of an entirely newly design of the light sources. The latest generation of the LED modules for low and high beam offers increased brightness. The LED daytime driving light and the turn indicator light are generated by a ring which surrounds the entire contour of the headlight,

Likewise optionally available, the adaptive LED headlights automatically adjust their brightness to the situation on the road. When driving through a city or in the event of limited visibility due to the weather, it is possible to add in the dimmed turning light so as to intensify illumination of the side section of the roadway. Meanwhile a specifically increased range of the low beam ensures optimum illumination of the road when driving on the motorway.

The adaptive LED headlights now also feature an automatic selective dip function for the high beam. The innovative Matrix technology for the high beam increases visibility range while at the same time avoiding any dazzle effect for other road users. For this purpose it is divided into four horizontally arranged segments, which are activated and deactivated independently of one another at speeds of over 70 km/h. The high beam segments are controlled based on the situation on the road. As soon as the MINI front camera registers an oncoming vehicle or a vehicle driving ahead, the space that vehicle occupies is only illuminated at low beam brightness. This is done by deactivation of the Matrix high beam segments that are responsible for the space in question. The remaining areas of the road continue to be illuminated at high beam brightness.

Very British: rear lights in Union Jack design.

The rear lights also feature a new design in conjunction with the LED headlights and the adaptive LED headlights. As a clear reference to the brand's British origins, the upright light units at the rear of the new MINI 3 door, the new MINI 5 door and the new MINI Convertible now appear in a Union Jack design.

The striking flag motif is recreated in the structure of the light functions. The turn indicators are horizontally arranged and the brake lights are vertically aligned, with the tail light additionally representing the diagonal lines of the British flag. In order to ensure a particularly harmonious lighting effect, all light sources forming the Union Jack graphic use LED technology.

New MINI logo: reduced to the essentials.

The new MINI logo is clear and authentic in style, appearing on the bonnet, tailgate, steering wheel, central instrument display and remote control in all models. It is a re-interpretation of the existing logo and now features a two-dimensional "flat design". As such, the MINI logo reflects the new brand identity with its focus on the essentials – namely key values such as driving fun, distinctive design, premium quality and emotional appeal.

Three new body finishes, premiere for Piano Black Exterior.

The range of body finishes available for the new MINI 3 door, the new MINI 5 door and the new MINI Convertible includes three variants. The colours Emerald Grey metallic, Starlight Blue metallic and Solaris Orange metallic are now also included in the program.

What is more, the list of optional equipment items features an additional means of customising the exterior design. With the option Piano Black Exterior, the surrounds of the headlights, rear lights and radiator grille are finished in high-gloss black instead of chrome.

The selection of optionally available light alloy wheels has been expanded, too. The 17-inch light alloy wheels in the design styles Roulette Spoke 2-tone and Propeller Spoke 2-tone are now available for all body variants of the new MINI. The likewise 17-inch light alloy wheels in Rail Spoke 2-tone design have also been newly added to the program.

New leather trims, interior surfaces and Colour Lines.

A broad selection of seat surfaces, interior surfaces and Colour Lines add a touch of individual style to the interior of the new MINI 3 door, the new MINI 5 door and the new MINI Convertible. New features for the MINI 3 door and the MINI 5 door include the Chester leather trim in Malt Brown and a Colour Line now also available in Malt Brown.

In addition, the option MINI Yours Interior Style Piano Black is now available with illumination. As well as surfaces in the area of the doors and centre console finished in Piano Black, this also includes a rear-lit decorative strip for the instrument panel on the passenger side. The latter is likewise finished in Piano Black as well as bearing a stylised Union Jack motif. The colour of the background lighting for the decorative strip is the same as the mood of the ambient lighting selected by the driver as part of the MINI Excitement Package.

Maximum individualisation: MINI Yours Customised.

The MINI Yours Customised program now raises hallmark brand individualisation to a whole new level. It includes retrofit products whose design can be created by customers themselves, which are then produced precisely according to these individual specifications. The MINI Yours Customised range includes side scuttles, decorative strips for the interior on the passenger side, LED door sill finishers and LED door projectors.

MINI Yours Customised products can be selected, designed and ordered through a specially created online shop. Here customers can choose between various colours, patterns, surface structures and icons, as well as contributing their own texts and adding a touch of personal style to the design. This creative interaction between manufacturer and customer enables MINI fans to turn their vehicle into a unique specimen that bears the stamp of their own personality. The individualised products are manufactured using innovative production techniques such as various 3D printing methods and laser engraving.

Drive: increased driving fun and efficiency, reduced weight.

A detailed revision of the engines offered for the new MINI 3 door, the new MINI 5 door and the new MINI Convertible mainly benefits driving fun. It also leads to a reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 figures by as much as five per cent, as well as optimising emissions so as to be able to comply with the more rigorous exhaust emission standards of the future. Further development has been applied across the board, including the basic engine, MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology, engine electronics, oil supply, intake air ducting, the cooling system and the exhaust systems. It was also possible to reduce the weight of the drive units. The engine covers are made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), so they are now lighter, too. The material used to make them is carbon fibre recyclate generated in the production of BMW i automobiles.

The 3-cylinder petrol engines of the MINI One First and the MINI One now draw their power from a capacity of 1.5 litres. This increases maximum torque by 10 Nm, taking it to 160 and 190 Nm respectively. In addition, all petrol engines feature petrol direct injection with the maximum pressure increased from 200 to 350 bar and turbocharger blades made of highly heat-resilient material. The common rail direct injection in the diesel engines ensures that fuel is fed to the combustion chambers with even greater precision. For this purpose, the maximum injection pressure in the 3-cylinder engines of the MINI One D and the MINI Cooper D has been increased to 2 200 bar and in the 4-cylinder of the MINI Cooper SD to 2 500 bar. What is more, the most powerful of the three diesel engines is now fitted with dual-level turbocharging.

New: 7-speed Steptronic transmission with double clutch, 8-speed Steptronic transmission.

As an alternative to the standard 6-speed manual transmission, a 7-speed Steptronic transmission with double clutch is optionally available for the models MINI One, MINI Cooper, MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper D. The new transmission type is characterised by very fast gearshifts, enabling extremely sporty acceleration manoeuvres without torque interrupt. It is operated using a newly designed electronic gear selector lever. A 7-speed Steptronic sports transmission with double clutch is also available for the MINI Cooper S. This includes shift paddles at the steering wheel for particularly spontaneous manual intervention in the choice of gear.

The MINI Cooper SD now comes with an 8-speed Steptronic transmission as standard. This 8-speed automatic transmission is unique in the small car segment and allows the output of the most powerful diesel engine to be transferred to the front wheels in a particularly sporty and harmonious manner. The 8-speed Steptronic transmission is also operated by means of an electronic gear selector lever, while an 8-speed Steptronic sports transmission with shift paddles is likewise available as an option.

All Steptronic transmissions available for the new MINI 3 door, the new MINI 5 door and the new MINI Convertible allow use of the coasting function in MID and GREEN mode as well as the latest generation of the auto start/stop function. Navigation and front camera data can now be incorporated in the control of the latter, too. If the vehicle is fitted accordingly, this allows situations to be identified in which it is better not to switch off the engine: for example when stopping briefly before making a turn or entering a roundabout, or if the traffic ahead has started moving again.

Diverse range of engines.

There are seven engine variants to choose from for the new MINI 3 door (only the Cooper and Cooper S engines will be offered in South Africa):

MINI One First 3 door: 55 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 12.8 seconds, top speed: 175 km/h, fuel consumption: 5.0 – 4.9 litres/100 km*, CO2 emissions: 115 – 111 g/km*.
MINI One 3 door: 75 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 10.1 seconds (10.2 seconds), top speed: 195 km/h (195 km/h), fuel consumption: 5.0 – 4.9 litres/100 km (5.0 – 4.8 litres/100 km)*, CO2 emissions: 115 – 111 g/km (114 – 109 g/km)*.
MINI Cooper 3 door: 100 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds (7.8 seconds), top speed: 210 km/h (210 km/h), fuel consumption: 5.2 – 5.0 litres/100 km (5.0 – 4.8 litres/100 km)*, CO2 emissions: 118 – 114 g/km (114 – 109 g/km)*.
MINI Cooper S 3 door: 141 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds (6.7 seconds), top speed: 235 km/h (235 km/h), fuel consumption: 6.1 – 6.0 litres/100 km (5.3 – 5.2 litres/100 km)*, CO2 emissions: 139 – 138 g/km (120 – 119 g/km)*.
MINI One D 3 door: 70 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 11.2 seconds, top speed: 190 km/h, fuel consumption: 3.9 – 3.8 litres/100 km*, CO2 emissions: 102 – 99 g/km*.
MINI Cooper D 3 door: 85 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 9.2 seconds (9.3 seconds), top speed: 205 km/h (204 km/h), fuel consumption: 3.9 – 3.9 litres/100 km (3.8 – 3.8 litres/100 km)*, CO2 emissions: 103 – 102 g/km (100 – 99 g/km)*.

MINI Cooper SD 3 door: 125 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds, top speed: 225 km/h, fuel consumption: 4.2 – 4.2 litres/100 km*, CO2 emissions: 111 – 110 g/km*.

Four petrol engines and three diesel engines are also offered for the new MINI 5 door (only the Cooper and Cooper S engine variants will be offered in South Africa):

MINI One First 5 door: 55 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 13.4 seconds, top speed: 172 km/h, fuel consumption: 5.1 – 4.9 litres/100 km*, CO2 emissions: 116 – 112 g/km*.
MINI One 5 door: 75 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 10.3 seconds (10.5 seconds), top speed: 192 km/h (192 km/h), fuel consumption: 5.1 – 4.9 litres/100 km (5.0 – 4.8 litres/100 km)*, CO2 emissions: 116 – 112 g/km (115 – 110 g/km)*.
MINI Cooper 5 door: 100 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds (8.1 seconds), top speed: 207 km/h (207 km/h), fuel consumption: 5.2 – 5.1 litres/100 km (5.0 – 4.8 litres/100 km)*, CO2 emissions: 120 – 116 g/km (115 – 110 g/km)*.
MINI Cooper S 5 door: 141 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds (6.8 seconds), top speed: 235 km/h (235 km/h), fuel consumption: 6.3 – 6.2 litres/100 km (5.4 – 5.4 litres/100 km)*, CO2 emissions: 143 – 141 g/km (124 – 123 g/km)*.
MINI One D 5 door: 70 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in x.y seconds, top speed: xxx km/h, fuel consumption: x.y – y.x litres/100 km*,
CO2 emissions: xxx – yyy g/km*.
MINI One D 5 door: 70 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 11.6 second, top speed: 187 km/h, fuel consumption: 3.9 – 3.8 litres/100 km*, CO2 emissions: 103 – 101 g/km *.
MINI Cooper D 5 door: 85 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 9.4 seconds (9.6 seconds), top speed: 203 km/h (202 km/h), fuel consumption: 4.0 – 3.9 litres/100 km (4.0 – 3.9 litres/100 km)*, CO2 emissions: 104 – 103 g/km (104 – 103 g/km)*.
MINI Cooper SD 5 door: 125 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds, top speed: 223 km/h, fuel consumption: 4.2 – 4.2 litres/100 km*, CO2 emissions: 126 – 125 g/km*.

The engine portfolio for the new MINI Convertible consists of three petrol engines and three diesel engines (only the Cooper and Cooper S engine variants will be available in South Africa):

MINI One Convertible: 75 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 10.6 seconds, top speed: 190 km/h, fuel consumption: 5.2 – 5.0 litres/100 km*, CO2 emissions: 119 – 115 g/km*.
MINI Cooper Convertible: 100 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 8.8 seconds (8.7 seconds), top speed: 208 km/h (206 km/h), fuel consumption: 5.4 – 5.2 litres/100 km (5.4 – 5.2 litres/100 km)*, CO2 emissions: 123 – 119 g/km (123 – 118 g/km)*.
MINI Cooper S Convertible: 141 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds (7.1 seconds), top speed: 230 km/h (230 km/h), fuel consumption: 6.4 – 6.3 litres/100 km (5.6 – 5.5 litres/100 km)*, CO2 emissions: 146 – 144 g/km (127 – 126 g/km)*.
MINI Cooper D Convertible: 85 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 9.9 seconds (9.9 seconds), top speed: 195 km/h (195 km/h), fuel consumption: 4.3 – 4.2 litres/100 km (4.3 – 4.1 litres/100 km)*, CO2 emissions: 112 – 111 g/km (113 – 109 g/km)*.
MINI Cooper SD Convertible: 125 kW, 0 – 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds, top speed: 218 km/h, fuel consumption: 4.4 – 4.3 litres/100 km*, CO2 emissions: 115 – 114 g/km*.

New steering wheel with multifunction buttons and radio with 6.5-inch colour screen as standard.

The newly designed three-spoke steering wheel in the MINI 3 door, MINI 5 door and MINI Convertible now features multifunction buttons. On the left-hand control panel it is possible to activate the Speed Limit Device to set a maximum speed, while the audio and communication controls are on the right-hand side. A sports leather steering wheel, a MINI Yours sports leather steering wheel and a John Cooper Works leather steering wheel are optionally available.

The standard trim also includes an audio system with 6.5-inch colour screen in the central instrument and mobile phone integration via Bluetooth. The Control Display offers a touchscreen function in conjunction with the optional Radio MINI Visual Boost and a navigation system.

New options: telephony with wireless charging, MINI logo projection.

The innovative optional equipment for the new MINI 3 door, the new MINI 5 door and the new MINI Convertible includes telephony with wireless charging option. A storage compartment integrated in the centre armrest enables wireless charging of mobile phones which offer this capability. This option also includes a second USB socket in the front section of the centre console.

The optional MINI Excitement Package now also includes the MINI logo projection on the driver's side. When the vehicle is opened and closed, the new MINI logo is projected onto the ground in front of the door from a light source in the exterior mirror and can be seen there for 20 seconds, or permanently if the door is left open.

MINI Connected: a range of digital services that is unique within the segment.

With the new MINI Connected functions, MINI offers a diverse range of digital services at premium level that is unique in the small car segment. New features include Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI) and the automatic navigation map update via mobile phone connection, the personal Concierge Service and the vehicle internet portal MINI Online with news, weather and fuel price overview. There is also an optional preparation for Apple CarPlay.

The new services are available in three packages. The option Connected Media includes digital infotainment facilities that can be used with the Radio MINI Visual Boost, while Connected Navigation turns the MINI navigation system into an intelligently networked information centre. The Connected Navigation Plus package includes all the MINI Connected XL functions.

The personal mobility assistant MINI Connected now enables drivers of the new MINI 3 door, the new MINI 5 door and the new MINI Convertible to integrate their vehicle and mobility planning seamlessly into their day-to-day digital routine. Meanwhile the MINI Connected App provides connectivity with digital touchpoints such as a smartphone or smart watch. For example, MINI Connected can draw on calendar entries and contact data entered in a smartphone to plan a route and determine the ideal time to set off based on real time traffic data. The Send to Car function enables planned routes to be sent to the MINI navigation system, while Remote Services allow the driver not just to display vehicle location, fuel level and other vehicle status details on their digital end device, but also activate the headlight flasher, horn, ventilation and door lock/unlock function.

Intelligent networking of the MINI is via a SIM card integrated in the vehicle: this now complies with the mobile communications standard 4G. It also enables the use of MINI Teleservices and the Intelligent Emergency Call with automatic detection of vehicle location and accident severity.

Services now available in the new MINI 3 door, the new MINI 5 door and the new MINI Convertible for the first time also include MINI Find Mate. This consists of so-called tags with a wireless tracking function that can be attached to frequently used objects and travel items such as bags, cases, key rings and rucksacks. Their position can not only be displayed on the on-board computer but also in the MINI Connected App on a smartphone. In this way, MINI Find Mate helps prevent personal items getting lost or left behind.

The new MINI 3 door, MINI 5 door and MINI Convertible will be available in South Africa from the second quarter of 2018. Pricing and local specifications will be communicated in due course.

Kyalami/Midrand. The Signature MINI John Cooper Works Team continued their upward momentum at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit last weekend, scene of round two of the Sasol GTC2 series. Chris Shorter raced his Champion MINI to fifth place overall with Brad Liebenberg a place further back his Ferodo example.

Qualifying showed that the MINIs were nearer the pace of their rivals in just their second race outing, while Chris Shorter and Brad Liebenberg continue to adjust their driving styles to suit the turbopetrol, ABS-equipped cars.

Qualifying was disappointing for Chris, who said he made too many small mistakes, setting his fastest time in his last flying lap. Brad had a solid qualifying session after finding a full second from his best free practice time on Friday. Brad lined up fourth and Chris in sixth place on the grid.

In race one, Brad took part in his first ever rolling start and held his position throughout the race, glued to the leading train of VWs ahead. Behind him, Chris had a great race with Charl Smalberger (VW Golf) vigorously defending his line for lap after lap. In was a tough mental joust, but eventually Smalberger found a way past and Chris ended sixth.

The second race featured an inverted grid, giving Chris second and Brad the third slot on the grid. Chris had a great fight with Keagan Masters (VW Golf) and Brad over the opening phase of the race, but the fully developed VWs swamped the MINI as the race wore on, leaving Chris in fifth place which earned the Champion driver fifth overall on the day.

Brad too, defended his position in a great scrap with former team-mate Keagan Masters. Places changed as the young drivers battled it out, passing and re-passing each other. Late in the race, Brad’s car developed a misfire, causing the MINI to go into limp mode. Brad pulled off the track, disappointed after the progress both he and the team made over the weekend.

Quotes from the cockpit:

Chris Shorter (#33 Champion MINI): “The MINI feels so much better with the limited slip diff fitted. I can now transfer the power to the road. I am still coming to terms with the turbo-charged engine which requires a completely different driving style to what I am used to. I made too many mistakes in qualifying so there is a lot more performance to come from me. We are closer to the front-running times, which is encouraging given that our competitors have a year of development on us. The racing was great and I had a few good scraps in the races”.

Brad Liebenberg (#12 Ferodo): “The team did a phenomenal job repairing my MINI after Cape Town. It feels the way it did before my accident. The new differential makes a massive difference. I was up into third place by turn one, but then the Golfs swamped me and I had a lonely race, hanging on to them as best I could. In race two, I started third and the first few laps were quite hectic. I tried to defend my place by putting my car in just the right place but you can’t do it for the whole race. I had a great race with Keagan. Our progress is encouraging and I can’t wait for East London”.

The next outing for the Signature MINI John Cooper Works team is at East London on 20^th May.

ENDS

For media queries, contact:

Edward Makwana

Manager: Group Product Communications

BMW Group South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Tel: +27-12-522-2227

Mobile: +27-71-666-2227

Email: edward.makwana@bmw.co.za

Thando Pato

Manager: Product Communications (MINI)

BMW Group South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Tel: +27-12-522-2070

Mobile: +27-71-666-2070

Email: Thando.pato@bmw.co.za  

Ronnie Erasmus

Motorsport Manager

Federal-Mogul Motorparts

Office: +27-11-630-3000 Mobile: +27-83-678-6773 Email: ronnie.erasmus@federalmogul.com